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f,     i,,    \.fc-.-..'  .*#  .•*•>        .>-.*•  - 


THE  LIBRARY 
OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


^^s 


THE    ATHEN^UM    PRESS   SERIES 

G.  L.  KITTREDGE  AND  C.  T.  WINCHESTER 
GENERAL   EDITORS 


StbenRum  press  Series 
SPECIMENS 

OF   THE 

PRE-SHAKSPEREAN    DRAMA 

With  an  Introduction,  Notes,  and  a  Glossary 

BY 

JOHN   MATTHEWS   MANLY 

PROFESSOR    AND   HEAD   OF    THE    DEPARTMENT   OF   ENGLISH 
IN    THE   UNIVERSITY   OF  CHICAGO 

VOL.  I 


This  is  the  silliest  stuff  that  e'er  I  heard  ! 

The  best  in  this  kind  are  but  shadows ; 
and  the  worst  are  no  worse,  if  imagi- 
nation amend  them. 


GINN  AND  COMPANY 

BOSTON    •    NEW  YORK    •    CHICAGO    •    LONDON 
ATLANTA    •    DALLAS    •    COLUMBUS    •    SAN   FRANCISCO 


COPYRIGHT,  1897,  BY 
JOHN  MATTHEWS  MANLY 


ALL  RIGHTS   RBSKRVBD 

321.2 


tEIjc   athenaeum 

G1NN  AND  COMPANY  •  PRO- 
PRIETORS •  BOSTON"  •  U.S.A. 


College 
Library 

Pfc 


TO 

THE   MEMORY 
OF 

ffrancts  James  CbfK) 

MY 
MASTER  AND   FRIEND 


PREFACE. 


SOME  four  years  ago  it  became  clear  that  the  two  volumes 
originally  announced  as  the  scope  of  this  book  would  not  suffice. 
In  the  first  place,  a  good  many  minute  but  not  insignificant  facts 
regarding  the  history  of  almost  every  period  of  the  drama  had 
come  to  light,  making  necessary  a  somewhat  longer  historical 
sketch  than  was  originally  planned.  In  the  second  place,  it 
seemed  not  merely  desirable,  but  even  imperative,  to  illustrate 
certain  phases  of  the  early  drama  which  had  in  collections  of  a 
similar  character  either  been  neglected  or  not  sharply  denned 
against  the  apparently  monotonous  background  of  mediaeval 
dramatic  art.  Thirdly,  a  somewhat  different  kind  of  annotation 
from  that  hitherto  provided  seemed  worth  attempting,  if  these 
volumes  were  to  serve  as  an  effective  introduction  to  an  art  as 
spacious  and  as  hospitable  as  the  mediaeval  Church,  and  to 
render  intelligible  and  vital  to  the  student  forms  of  art  so  differ- 
ent from  ours  in  aim,  in  spirit,  in  method,  in  conventions,  and  in 
material  accessories.  A  plan  for  a  three-volume  edition  was 
therefore  submitted  to  the  general  editors  of  the  series  and  to 
the  publishers,  who  readily  agreed  to  any  change  that  would 
make  the  book  more  useful  and  interesting. 

At  the  suggestion  and  request  of  some  teachers  who  wish  to 
use  the  book,  the  texts  have  been  put  together  in  two  volumes, 
and  the  whole  of  the  illustrative  and  explanatory  material  reserved 
for  the  third.  It  is  hoped  that  this  arrangement  will  make  the 
volumes  more  convenient  for  use. 

Preceding  the  main  body  of  texts  will  be  found  certain  docu- 
ments which,  though,  for  one  reason  or  another,  not  entitled  to  a 
place  among  the  main  texts,  are  nevertheless  indispensable  in  a 
book  of  this  kind.  Taken  together,  they  represent  various  stages 
of  the  liturgical  drama,  without  which  the  inter-relations  of  the 


VI  PREFACE. 

Scripture  cycles  will  be  altogether  misunderstood.  The  first  two 
of  them  are  dramatic  tropes  of  the  office  of  Easter.  The  third 
presents  a  later  form  of  the  same  trope,  very  highly  developed 
within  itself,  but  free  from  the  accretions  by  which  this  dramatic 
office  grew  into  a  cyclic  drama  of  the  life  of  Christ.  The  fourth 
has  a  twofold  interest :  it  is,  perhaps,  the  only  extant  example  of 
a  MS.  prepared  for  the  use  of  a  single  actor  and  containing  only 
his  part  and  his  cues  ;  and  it  also  affords  an  interesting  glimpse  of 
the  vernacular  liturgical  drama  as  presented  in  the  churches  during 
the  florescence  of  the  craft-plays. 

I  should  have  been  glad  to  include  in  this  preliminary  section 
an  example  of  the  Latin  cycle  developed  by  the  combination  of 
such  separate  plays  as  the  Easter  plays  just  mentioned  ;  but, 
although  it  can  hardly  be  doubted  that  such  cycles  existed  in 
England,  no  text  of  English  origin  has  yet  come  to  light.  I  have 
felt  less  regret  at  my  inability  to  include  a  Latin  miracle-play 
of  English  origin,  because,  although  miracle-plays,  in  the  strict 
sense  of  the  term,  were  common  in  England  from  the  time  of 
their  origin  to  the  sixteenth  century,  there  is  a  total  lack  of  docu- 
ments illustrating  the  stages  of  development  of  this  species  of 
play,  the  earliest  extant  English  example  being  The  Play  of  the 
Sacrament. 

In  the  main  body  of  texts,  Part  I  is  devoted  entirely  to  the 
craft-cycles  and  their  congeners.  It  will  be  observed  that  the 
arrangement  adopted  is  that  of  the  order  of  the  subjects  in  cos- 
mical  history.  For  obvious  reasons,  an  arrangement  based  on 
the  order  of  composition  of  the  cycles  would  have  been  sometimes 
impossible  and  sometimes  misleading  ;  and  in  a  book  of  this  kind 
it  seemed  more  desirable  to  present  materials  for  giving  the  stu- 
dent some  conception  of  the  nature  and  effect  of  the  cyclic  drama 
as  a  whole  than  to  try  to  illustrate  the  inter-relations  of  the  cycles, 
—  a  line  of  inquiry  which  demands,  indeed,  a  more  elaborate 
equipment  both  of  knowledge  and  of  documents  than  seems  to 
have  been  suspected  even  by  some  serious  investigators.  My 
choice  of  pageants  was  not,  however,  entirely  determined  by  the 
wish  to  present  an  artificial  cycle.  It  seemed  desirable,  in  the 
first  place,  that  all  the  extant  cycles  should  be  represented  (the 


PREFACE.  Vll 

Newcastle  Noah  play  has  been  omitted  on  account  both  of  its 
fragmentary  character  and  its  corrupt  text),  and,  secondly,  that 
the  representative  pageants  should  each  have  some  specific  claim 
to  attention.  Thus,  the  two  Norwich  pageants  afford  the  only 
known  example  of  a  pageant  and  the  substitute  which  later  took 
its  place.  The  Towneley  Noah,  with  its  characteristically  Eng- 
lish conception  of  Noah's  wife,  justifies  itself.  The  Hegge  Noah 
is  included  both  as  a  contrast  to  this  and  as  containing  in  the 
Lamech  episode  an  English  example  of  a  farce,  in  the  original 
sense  of  the  word.  Whether  the  Brome  Abraham  and  Isaac 
belongs  to  a  cycle  or  is  an  isolated  play,  it  clearly  could  not  be 
omitted.  The  Towneley  Isaac  and  Jacob  pageants  are  included, 
not  only  because,  in  ten  Brink's  opinion,  they  are  the  most  primi- 
tive of  all  the  pageants,  but  also  because  of  their  remarkable 
combination  of  intensity  of  conception  and  phrasing  with  a  sim- 
plicity—  not  to  say  nakedness  —  of  presentation.  The  Chester 
Balaam  pageant  affords,  in  the  version  here  given,  an  unparal- 
leled example  of  the  transition  stage  of  the  Processus  Prophe- 
tarum,  and,  although  unknown  to  Sepet  when  he  wrote  Les  Pro- 
phetes  du  Christ,  confirms  in  an  interesting  manner  his  theory  of 
the  development  and  influence  of  the  pseudo-Augustinian  sermon. 
The  question  of  the  additions  and  excisions  by  which  this  version 
was  reduced  to  the  ordinary  form  must,  of  course,  be  reserved  for 
the  Notes.  The  Hegge  Salutation  and  Conception  contains  the 
most  striking  example  in  English  of  that  debate  between  the  Four 
Daughters  of  God  which  played  so  commanding  a  part  in  medi- 
aeval religious  thought.  The  Towneley  Secitnda  Pastomm  has 
so  long  been  recognized  as  the  best  extant  example  of  individual- 
ization  of  typical  characters  and  of  rapid  transition  from  the  far- 
cical to  the  sublime  that  it  is  expected  in  every  book  of  selections. 
In  the  Coventry  Plays  choice  was  limited  to  two  ;  The  Pageant 
of  the  Shearmen  and  Taylors  was  selected  because  it  illustrates 
so  admirably  the  way  in  which  several  originally  distinct  pageants 
were,  by  force  of  circumstances,  combined  into  one.  A  pageant 
dealing  with  the  Resurrection  seemed  to  be  absolutely  demanded 
by  the  importance  of  the  Easter  play  in  the  development  of  the 
cyclic  drama  :  the  example  here  given  from  the  York  series  will  be 


Vlll  •          PREFACE. 

found  to  contain  reminiscences  of  the  most  primitive  form  of  this 
strangely  fated  trope.  A  treble  interest  attaches  to  the  Chester 
Antichrist  pageant,  here  printed  from  a  hitherto  unpublished  and 
practically  unknown  MS.,  —  a  prompt-book  antedating  by  a  cen- 
tury the  other  MSS.  of  this  unique  play.  No  English  cycle  would 
be  complete  without  a  pageant  of  the  Judgment,  that  specifically 
English  development  ;  and  no  one,  I  think,  can  fail  to  be  impressed 
by  the  dignity  and  power  of  the  specimen  here  presented  from  the 
York  Plays. 

In  the  artificial  cycle  thus  constructed  certain  subjects  find,  of 
course,  no  representation ;  but,  for  all  that,  the  student  can  obtain 
from  it  a  clear  and  not  wholly  inadequate  conception  of  the  craft- 
cycle  as  a  form  of  the  drama.  That  I  have  put  together  pageants 
from  various  sources  can  hardly,  in  view  of  the  heterogeneous 
character  of  the  cycles  themselves  and  their  complex  inter-rela- 
tions, be  a  serious  objection.  And  any  one  who  wishes  to  form 
an  idea  of  the  distinctive  characteristics  of  the  various  cycles  can, 
with  the  aid  of  the  table  of  contents,  easily  bring  together  the 
specimens  of  each. 

Part  II  contains  two  religious  plays  totally  unconnected  with 
the  Scripture  cycles.  The  Conversion  of  St.  Paul,  therefore,  un- 
interesting as  it  is  as  dramatic  literature,  can  hardly  be  neglected 
by  the  literary  historian.  The  Play  of  the  Sacrament  not  only 
exhibits  the  Banes  in  their  real  function  of  a  preliminary  an- 
nouncement of  the  play,  but  also  claims  attention  by  its  entirely 
and  doubly  unique  character. 

Part  III  affords  illustrations  of  important  phases  of  dramatic 
activity  heretofore  too  little  regarded  by  students.  No  one  who 
reads  the  scanty  records  of  dramatic  performances  in  the  fifteenth 
and  sixteenth  centuries,  with  their  constantly  recurring  notices  of 
May  plays,  Robin  Hood  plays,  St.  George  plays,  and  sword  plays 
and  dances,  will  fail  to  welcome  the  three  Robin  Hood  plays,  or, 
in  view  of  the  clearly  antique  elements  which  form  the  basis  of 
the  St.  George  plays  and  The  Revesby  Sword  Play,  cavil  at  the 
introduction  of  texts  so  recently  committed  to  writing. 

Of  the  five  Moralities  forming  Part  IV  little  need  be  said.  I 
wished  to  print  one  of  the  unpublished  Macro  plays  ;  Dr.  Fur- 


PREFACE.  IX 

nivall  offered  me  Mankind,  and  I  gladly  accepted  it.  Mundus 
et  Infans  and  Hycke-scorner  complete  the  representation  of 
this  important  class  of  Moralities.  Every-man  has  so  long 
and  so  justly  figured  as  the  most  impressive  play  of  its  kind 
that  its  omission  may  need  justification.  Here  I  can  only  say 
briefly  that,  in  spite  of  its  enormous  influence  upon  general 
European  literature,  this  seemed  justified  by  Logeman's  proof 
that  it  is  not  of  English  composition,  but  a  translation  from  the 
Dutch,  by  its  accessibility  in  cheap  and  convenient  form,  and  by 
the  fact  that  the  type  to  which  it  belongs  is  sufficiently  repre- 
sented by  the  plays  just  mentioned.  Wyt  and  Science  is  not  only 
one  of  the  most  perfect  allegories  extant,  but  also  an  excellent 
example  of  the  Morality  in  the  service,  not  of  religious,  but  of 
secular  education.  Nice  Wanton  is,  without  doubt,  the  most 
vividly  dramatic  of  all  the  Moralities. 

Hey  wood's  Johan-Johan,  Tyb  and  Syr  JJian  I  had  intended  to 
print,  as  being  the  only  one  of  his  interludes  possessed  of  real 
dramatic  movement ;  but  instructors  will  perhaps  not  regret  to 
see  instead  their  old  favorite,  The  Foure  PJ\ 

Kynge  Johan,  Roister  Doister,  Gammer  Gurtorfs  Needle,  Cam- 
bises,  Gorboduc,  Alexander  and  Campaspe,  James  IV,  David 
and  Bethsabe,  and  The  Spanish  Tragedy  need  no  comment  to 
render  their  significance  clear.  Marlowe  finds  no  place  here, 
because  he  is  too  important  to  be  represented  by  anything  less 
than  his  complete  works,  and  they  are  now  easily  accessible. 

Most  of  the  texts  here  published  have  been  either  copied  or 
collated  anew  for  this  book.  Collations  of  The  Play  of  the  Sacra 
ment  and  of  Mundus  et  Infans  were  made  under  the  supervision 
of  Dr.  T.  K.  Abbot,  the  Librarian  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin. 
The  copy  of  Mr.  Wynne's  MS.  of  the  Antichrist  pageant  was 
made  by  Mrs.  Agnes  Furnivall  and  revised  by  Dr.  F.  J.  Furnivall. 
All  other  copies  and  collations  were  made  by  Mrs.  Furnivall, 
whose  accuracy  has  been  confirmed  by  such  tests  as  I  have  been 
able  to  apply. 

In  printing  the  texts  I  have  aimed  at  fidelity  to  my  originals. 
This  ideal,  however,  did  not  seem  to  me  impaired  by  the  intro- 
duction of  modern  usage  in  regard  to  capitals  and  punctuation. 


X  PREFACE. 

Upon  the  latter  a  good  deal  of  care  has  been  expended,  and, 
though  I  cannot  hope  to  have  avoided  all  errors,  I  do  hope  that 
it  will  be  found  in  general  an  aid  to  the  reader  and  in  ambiguous 
passages  an  indication  of  the  most  probable  interpretation.  Atten- 
tion has  also  been  devoted  to  exhibiting  the  metrical  structure  of 
these  poems.  The  stanza-forms  are  various  and  in  some  casts 
confused,  but  the  effort  to  detach  to  the  eye  such  parts  as  possess 
definite  stanzaic  form  seemed  worth  making,  if  only  for  the  light 
thus  thrown  upon  the  composite  character  of  certain  plays  and 
the  artistic  helplessness  of  the  authors  of  certain  others.  In  these 
three  matters  I  have  introduced  my  own  system  without  special 
notification  and  have  not  recorded  variations  from  it  on  the  part 
either  of  ancient  scribes  and  printers  or  modern  editors.  In- 
stances in  which  a  different  punctuation  from  mine  indicates  a 
different  interpretation  will  be  discussed  in  the  Notes  in  vol.  Ill 
when  they  seem  of  sufficient  importance.  In  regard  to  the  forms 
of  certain  letters,  it  is  perhaps  inconsistent  that  I  should  strictly 
reproduce  ancient  usage  in  regard  to  z,  u,  and  v,  and  neglect  it  in 
regard  to  s ;  but  I  have  perhaps  often  failed  to  be  consistent,  and 
in  this  particular  matter  I  may  plead  precedent  as  well  as  the 
fact  that  in  textual  cruces  I  have  reproduced  long  s  in  the  foot- 
notes. Stage-directions  not  in  the  original  are  printed  in  brackets. 
When  I  began  to  print  I  intended  to  credit  to  previous  editors 
those  supplied  by  them,  but  the  attempt  was  soon  abandoned,  as 
it  became  clear  that  too  much  space  would  be  required  to  set 
forth  that  in  this  instance  I  had  changed  the  place  and  in  another 
the  form  of  a  direction  supplied  by  one  of  my  predecessors. 
Such  a  record  could,  moreover,  have  scarcely  any  other  interest 
than  that  of  curiosity,  whereas  it  is  clearly  a  matter  of  great  im- 
portance that  the  text  should  not  be  sophisticated  by  confusion  of 
ancient  documents  with  modern  conjectures. 

With  the  modifications  just  noted,  I  may  say  in  general  that  I 
have  made  no  un indicated  alterations  in  the  texts.  When  the 
treatment  of  a  text  varies  in  any  particular  from  that  adopted  in 
general,  a  distinct  account  of  such  difference  is  given  in  the  head- 
note  preceding  the  play ;  and  I  believe  it  will  always  be  found 
possible  for  the  textual  critic  to  learn  from  text  and  footnotes 


PREFACE.  XI 

exactly  the  appearance  of  the  original.  Expanded  contractions 
are,  of  course,  indicated  by  italics.  It  will  be  observed  that 
in  the  early  plays  I  have  recorded  with  scrupulous  minuteness 
the  readings  of  other  editions.  In  the  later  texts  this  seemed 
both  unnecessary  and  undesirable ;  but  I  have  aimed  to  omit  no 
variant  which,  the  date  of  the  text  being  considered,  could  have 
even  the  slightest  significance.  On  the  earlier  texts  a  large  number 
of  conjectural  emendations  have  been  printed  in  various  publica- 
tions. These  I  have,  for  the  sake  of  convenience  and  complete- 
ness, attempted  to  collect  and  record.  The  later  plays  have,  for- 
tunately for  the  editor,  not  been  subjected  to  so  much  ingenuity. 

A  warning  must  be  issued  in  regard  to  the  footnotes  ;  it  is 
never  safe  to  interpret  the  symbols  attached  to  variants  and 
emendations  without  reference  to  the  headnote  of  the  particular 
play.  For  instance,  in  some  plays  H.  means  H  alii  well,  in  others 
Holthausen  ;  but  perhaps  the  greatest  danger  of  confusion  resides 
in  the  symbol  K.,  which  in  several  plays  marks  the  textual  notes 
of  Professor  Kolbing,  and  in  one  the  readings  of  an  edition  by 
the  printer  John  Kyng,  but  never  the  emendations  of  Professor 
Kittredge,  whose  suggestions,  as  being  unpublished  and  communi- 
cated directly  to  me,  are  always  distinguished  by  his  unabbreviated 
surname. 

A  word  or  two  in  regard  to  the  contents  of  vol.  Ill  seem 
necessary.  It  will  contain  an  Introduction,  with  certain  appen- 
dices, a  body  of  Notes,  and  a  Glossary.  The  Introduction  will 
trace  the  history  of  the  drama  on  the  Continent  as  well  as  in 
England  from  the  beginning  of  the  tenth  century  to  the  formation 
of  the  Scripture  cycles,  and  then  in  England  alone  from  that 
time  to  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century.  In  the  appendices  will 
be  given  a  bibliography  and  lists  of  places  in  England  at  which 
performances  are  known  to  have  occurred  before  the  Age  of 
Elizabeth,  and  of  persons  and  places  possessing  companies  of 
players,  with  the  nearest  ascertainable  dates  of  recorded  perform- 
ances. A  map  illustrating  the  distribution  of  plays  in  England 
will  accompany  the  list  of  performances. 

The  Notes  will  give  information  as  to  date,  authorship,  place 
and  mode  of  presentation,  character  of  costumes,  etc.,  when  such 


Xll  PREFACE. 

information  is  obtainable.  In  the  case  of  plays  with  international 
affiliations  the  more  important  parallels  and  congeners  will  be 
pointed  out.  Effort  will  also  be  made  to  aid  the  reader  in  involved 
or  obscure  passages  by  explanation  and  paraphrase,  and  to  empha- 
size the  dramatic  elements  as  distinct  from  the  literary.  Elaborate 
linguistic  annotation  seems  inappropriate  in  a  book  intended  to 
aid  the  study  of  a  form  of  art,  and  consequently  the  linguistic 
notes  will  be  confined  to  passages  of  obscure  or  ambiguous  sig- 
nification. Much  of  the  linguistic  information  usually  given  in 
notes  will  be  found  in  the  Glossary. 

The  Glossary  will  aim  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  intelligent  stu- 
dent who  has  no  training  in  the  older  forms  of  English.  It  will 
therefore  include  all  words  obsolete  as  to  either  form  or  meaning 
and  words  which  by  their  strange  spelling  are  likely  to  elude  the 
ingenious  ;  but  it  will  not  include  words  which  ought,  even  in 
their  strange  spelling,  to  be  recognizable  by  any  intelligent  English- 
man. 

The  material  for  vol.  Ill  has,  with  the  exception  of  that 
published  recently,  been  in  hand  since  the  summer  of  1893.  I 
therefore  hope  that  the  appearance  of  that  volume  need  not  be 
postponed  much  longer. 

The  list  of  persons  to  whom  my  thanks  are  due  is  a  long  one. 
Would  that  I  might  give  them  a  pleasure  equal  to  that  with  which 
I  remember  their  services  and  here  record  their  names ! 

First,  as  to  texts.  W.  R.  M.  Wynne,  Esq.,  of  Peniarth,  Wales, 
not  only  allowed  me  to  have  copies  made  of  two  of  his  most 
interesting  MSS.,  but,  with  a  kindness  which  I  cannot  adequately 
acknowledge,  himself  brought  them  from  Peniarth  to  London  for 
the  use  of  my  copyist,  and  allowed  them  to  remain  in  the  British 
Museum  for  a  longer  time  than  it  is  pleasant  to  recall.  Dr.  F.  J. 
Furnivall,  of  London,  with  his  accustomed  liberality,  allowed  me 
to  have  a  copy  made  of  his  copy  of  Mankind,  and  sent  me  ad- 
vance sheets  of  the  Towneley  Plays.  Miss  Lucy  Toulmin  Smith, 
of  Oxford,  with  the  generosity  of  a  scholar,  was  willing  that  I 
should  make  use  of  the  texts  so  well  edited  by  her,  and  the  Dele- 
gates of  the  Clarendon  Press  kindly  allowed  me  to  reprint  two 
pageants  from  her  edition  of  the  York  Plays. 


PREFACE.  Xlll 

Thanks  for  the  loan  of  books  are  due  to  the  Rev.  Father  Shan- 
Jelle,  S.  J.,  of  St.  Joseph's  School,  Providence ;  to  W.  E.  Foster, 
Esq.,  the  obliging  Librarian  of  the  Public  Library,  Providence  ; 
and,  most  of  all,  to  T.  J.  Kiernan,  Esq.,  Superintendent  of  Circu- 
lation in  the  Harvard  College  Library,  whose  unfailing  kindness 
and  matchless  knowledge  of  the  resources  of  his  library  are  grate- 
fully remembered  by  so  many  scholars. 

For  helpful  answers  to  inquiries  addressed  to  them  I  have  to 
thank  Dr.  John  Young,  Keeper  of  the  Hunterian  Museum,  Glas- 
gow, and  the  Rev.  Canon  Fowler  and  the  Rev.  Canon  Wordsworth, 
of  Lincoln. 

Professor  Barrett  Wendell,  of  Harvard  University,  nearly  ten 
years  ago  first  awakened  my  interest  in  the  subject  of  these  volumes. 
In  the  Introduction  he  will  doubtless  recognize,  as  his  own,  ideas 
which,  after  the  lapse  of  so  long  a  time,  I  am  unable  to  credit  to 
their  rightful  owner.  For  inspiration,  however,  I  should  thank 
most  of  all,  were  he  still  alive,  my  lamented  teacher  and  friend, 
to  whom  I  had  hoped  to  offer  these  volumes,  but  whose  friend- 
ship and  aid  I  can  now  record  only  in  a  dedication  to  his 
memory. 

To  Professor  J.  F.  Jameson,  of  Brown  University,  and  Pro- 
fessor A.  R.  Marsh,  of  Harvard,  I  am  grateful  for  interest  in  my 
work  and  for  notification  of  interesting  materials  which  would 
otherwise  have  escaped  me.  Professor  E.  S.  Sheldon,  of  Har- 
vard, has  been  tireless  in  answering  questions  in  the  field  of  Old 
French  and  in  helping  me  through  many  a  dark  and  difficult 
passage.  To  Professor  G.  L.  Kittredge,  of  Harvard,  I  am  in- 
debted for  aid  so  various  that  space  fails  me  not  only  to  record 
the  instances,  but  even  to  enumerate  the  kinds.  With  him,  from 
the  very  beginning  of  my  work,  I  have  discussed  theories  and 
facts  of  all  degrees  of  importance  ;  again  and  again  I  have  re- 
ceived from  him  notes  of  books  and  documents  that  had  escaped 
my  observation  ;  and  more  recently  he  has  done  me  the  inestimable 
service  of  reading  with  me  all  the  proofs  of  vol.  I  and  aiding 
me  in  the  establishment  and  punctuation  of  the  text.  Some  of 
his  aid  I  have  been  able  to  point  out  specifically,  but  much  of  it 
has  been  such  as  cannot  be  recorded. 


XIV  PREFACE. 

For  such  errors  as  time  and  criticism  may  disclose  I,  of  course, 
am  alone  responsible.  I  have  striven  to  make  them  few. 

In  conclusion,  I  express  the  hope  that  these  volumes  may  really 
serve  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  planned,  —  that  of  helping 
the  student  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  the  modern  drama  through  its 
strange  and  interesting  nonage,  to  come  into  sympathy  with  the 
aims  and  methods  of  the  known  and  nameless  artists  whose  work 
is  here  presented,  and  to  form  some  conception  of  the  vast  amount 
of  dramatic  activity  and  the  widespread  dramatic  interest  which 
made  possible  the  career  of  Shakspere.  Such  results  cannot  be 
attained  by  him  who  regards  even  the  poorest  of  these  plays  as 
a  mere  butt  for  nineteenth-century  ridicule,  or  who  forgets  that 
the  old  German  playwright  touched  the  root  of  the  whole  matter 
when  he  said  in  regard  to  his  play  :  "  Das  wassen  vn  das  laben 
diss  vnd  andren  spilen  stodt  nit  alleyn  in  spriichen,  sender  vyl 
meer  im  wassen,  wiircken  vnd  gbarden." 

JOHN  MATTHEWS  MANLY. 

BARNSTABLE,  Aug.  30,  1897. 


CONTENTS   OF   VOL.  I. 


PAGE 

DRAMATIC  TROPES:  I.  Regularis  Concordia  Monachorum  .     .     .  xix 

II.  Winchester  Troper xxi 

EASTER  DRAMATIC  OFFICE  :  St.  John's,  Dublin xxii 

FRAGMENTS  OF  VERNACULAR  LITURGICAL  PLAYS xxvii 

PART  I. 

NORWICH  WHITSUN  PLAYS:  Creation  and  Fall,  I i 

Creation  and  Fall,  II 4 

TOWNELEY  PLAYS:  Noah's  Flood 13 

HEGGE  PLAYS  :  Noah  and  Lamech 31 

BROME  PLAY  :  Abraham  and  Isaac 41 

TOWNELEY  PLAYS  :  Isaac 58 

Jacob 60 

CHESTER  WHITSUN  PLAYS:  De  Mose  et  Rege  Balaak  et  Balaam 

Propheta  (Processus  Prophetarum) 66 

HEGGE  PLAYS  :  The  Salutation  and  Conception 82 

TOWNELEY  PLAYS  :  The  Second  Shepherds'  Play  (Secunda 

Pastorum) 94 

COVENTRY  PLAYS  :  The  Pageant  of  the  Shearmen  and  Taylors 

(The  Nativity  and  the  Slaughter  of  the  Innocents)  ....  120 

YORK  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS:  The  Resurrection 153 

CHESTER  WHITSUN  PLAYS:  Antichrist  (Hengwrt  version)  .  .  170 

YORK  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS  :  The  Judgment  Day  ....  198 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

PART  II. 

PAGE 

DIGBY  PLAYS:  The  Conversion  of  St.  Paul        215 

THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT 239 

PART  III. 

ROBIN  HOOD  PLAYS  :  Robin  Hood  and  the  Knight 279 

Robin  Hood  and  the  Friar 281 

Robin  Hood  and  the  Potter 285 

ST.  GEORGE  PLAYS  :  Oxfordshire  Play 289 

Lutterworth  Christmas  Play 292 

THE  REVESBY  SWORD  PLAY 296 

PART  IV. 

MANKIND .' 315 

MUNDUS  ET  INFANS .    .  353 

HYCKE-SCORNER 386 

WYT  AND  SCIENCE.     By  Jhon  Redford 421 

NICE  WANTON 457 

PART  V. 

THE  FOURE  PP.    By  John  Heywood !     .  483 

PART  VI. 

KYNGE  JOHAN.    By  John  Bale 525 


LITURGICAL  TEXTS. 


DRAMATIC    TROPES. 


These  two  dramatic  tropes  of  the  service  of  Easter  are  of  interest  not  only  because 
they  are  among  the  earliest  known  texts  of  the  germ  from  which  developed  the  great 
mediaeval  Easter  cycle,  but  also  because  they  show  that  before  the  Norman  Conquest 
the  development  of  the  drama  in  England  had  begun. 

The  first  is  printed  from  the  Regularis  Concordia  Monachorum,  ascribed  to  Duns- 
tan  or,  with  more  probability,  to  Ethelwold,  and  usually  assigned  to  the  year  967  (on 
both  these  points,  see  vol.  III).  The  text  is,  of  course,  based  upon  W.  S.  Logeman's 
edition,  Anglia,  XIII,  426-428,  in  preference  to  any  of  the  older  editions;  but  the 
contractions  and  word-division  of  the  original  are  not  indicated.  In  this  version,  it  will 
be  observed,  the  trope  occurs  in  the  nocturnal  service,  immediately  after  the  third 
responsory. 

The  second  is  found  in  two  tropers  originally  belonging  to  Winchester  Cathedral,  the 
earlier  assigned  to  the  years  979-1016  (and  probably  before  Oct.  20,  980),  the  later  to 
the  middle  of  the  eleventh  century.  In  the  text  I  follow  "  The  Winchester  Troper," 
edited  by  W.  H.  Frere  for  the  Henry  Bradshaw  Society,  London,  1894 ;  but  I  have  not 
followed  Frere  (D  17)  in  putting  in  brackets  words  found  in  the  earlier  version  but  not 
in  the  later.  In  the  earlier  MS.  this  trope  precedes  the  Benedictio  cerei,  etc.,  of 
Easter  Eve,  but,  for  all  that,  it  appears  to  be  here,  as,  in  Gautier's  opinion,  it  is  in  origin, 
&  trope  of  the  Introit  of  the  Mass. 

I. 

Dum  tertia  recitatur  lectio,  quatuor  fratres  induant  se,  quorum 
unus  alba1  indutus  ac  si  ad  aliud  agendum  ingrediatur,  atque  latenter 
sepulchri  locum  adeat,  ibique  manu  tenens  palmam,  quietus  sedeat. 
Dumque  tertium  percelebratur  responsorium,  residui  tres  succe- 
dant,  omnes  quidem  cappis  induti,  turribula  cum  incenso2  manibus 
gestantes  ac  pedetemptim  ad  similitudinem  querentium  quid,ueniant 
ante  locum  sepulchri.  Aguntur  enim  hec  ad  imitationem  angeli 
sedentis  in  monumento  atque  mulierum  cum  aromatibus  uenien- 
tium  ut  ungerent  corpus  Ihesu.  Cum  ergo  ille  residens  tres  uelut 
erraneos  ac  aliquid  querentes  uiderit  sibi  adproximare,  incipiat 
mediocri  uoce  dulcisono  cantare  : 

Quern  queritis  [in  sepulchre,  o  Christicole]  ? 8 

1  MS.  abba.  2  Logeman,  incensu. 

*  All  -words  in  brackets  are  supplied  from  other  versions  of  the  flay. 


XX  DRAMATIC    TROPES. 

Quo  decantato  fine  terms,  respondeant  hi  tres  uno  ore : 
Ihesu[m]  Nazarenum  [crucifixum,  o  celicola], 

Quibus  ille : 

Non  est  hie  ;  surrexit,  sicut  predixerat: 
Ite,  nuntiate  quia  surrexit  a  mortuis. 

Cuius  iussionis 1  uoce  uertant  se  illi  tres  ad  chorum  dicentes : 
Alleluia!  resurrexit  Dominus! 

Dicto  hoc,  rursus  ille  residens,  uelut  reuocans  illos  dicat  antipho- 
nam : 

Uenite,  et  uidete  locum  [ubi  positus  erat  Dominus,  alleluia !  alleluia !] 

Hec  uero  dicens  surgat,  et  erigat  uelum,  ostendatque  eis  locum 
cruce  nudatum,  sed  tantum  linteamina  posita  quibus  crux  inuoluta 
erat.  Quo  uiso,  deponant  turribula  que  gestauerunt  in  eodem 
sepulchre,  sumantque  linteum  et  extendant  contra  clerutn,  ac, 
ueluti  ostendentes  quod  surrexerit  Dominus  et  iam  non  sit  illo 
inuolutus,  hanc  canant  antiphonam  : 

Surrexit  Dominus  de  sepulchre, 
[Qui  pro  nobis  pependit  in  ligno]. 

Superponantque  linteum  altari.  Finita  antiphona,  Prior  congau- 
dens  pro  triumpho  Regis  nostri,  quod,  deuicta  morte,  surrexit, 
incipiat  hymnum: 

Te,  Deum,  laudamus. 

Quo  incepto,  una  pulsantur  omnia  signa ;  post  cuius  finem  dicat 
sacerdos  versum : 

In  resurrectione  tua,  Christe, 

uerbo  tenus,  et  initiet  matutinas  dicens  : 

Deus,  in  adiutorium  meum  intende  ! 
1  MS.  iussimus ;  Dugdale,  Monasticon  Angl.,  missionis. 


DRAMATIC    TROPES.  XXI 

II. 

ANGELICA  DE  CHRISTI  RESURRECTIONS. 
Quern  queritis  in  sepulchre,  [o]  Christicole  ? 

Sanctarum  mulierum  responsio: 

Ihesum  Nazarenum  crucifixum,  o  caelicola! 2 

Angelice  uocis  con  solatia : 

Non  est  hie,  surrexit  si  cut  praedixerat, 
Ite,  nuntiate  quia  surrexit,  dicentes  : 

Sanctarum  mulierum  ad  omnem  clerum  modulatio: 

Alleluia  !   Resurrexit  Dominus  hodie, 

Leo  fortis,  Christus  filius  Dei  !  Deo  gratias  dicite,  eia  i 

Dicat  angelus  : 

Uenite  et  uidete  locum  ubi  positus  erat  Dominus,  alleluia ! 
alleluia ! 

Iterum  dicat  angelus  : 

Cito  euntes  dicite  discipulis  quia  surrexit  Dominus,  alleluia! 
alleluia ! 

Mulieres  2  una  uoce  canant  iubilantes : 

Surrexit  Dominus  de  sepulchre, 

Qui  pro  nobis  pependit  in  ligno,  alleluia! 

l  The  later  MS.  has  celicole.  2  Frere  has  mulieri. 


EASTER   DRAMATIC    OFFICE. 


This  version  of  the  Officium  Sepulchriis  taken  from  a  fourteenth-century  MS.  Pro- 
cessional of  the  Church  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  Dublin.  The  text  is  based  upon 
the  facsimile  given  by  Frere,  "  The  Winchester  Troper,"  plate  26b.  The  four  pages 
reproduced  by  Frere  unfortunately  do  not  contain  the  very  beginning  of  the  office.  I 
have  therefore  supplied  a  few  lines  in  brackets,  mainly  on  the  basis  of  a  very  similar 
Orleans  version  of  the  thirteenth  century  (Lange,  "  Die  lateinischen  Osterfeiern,"  Miin- 
chen,  1887,  pp.  160  ff.).  In  a  few  instances  I  have  called  attention  to  deviations  from 
the  forms  found  in  other  service-books,  but  in  general  it  seemed  best  to  print  the  text 
without  change  or  remark,  startling  as  it  sometimes  is. 

The  music  of  the  office  is  written  on  the  unbarred  four-line  staff,  and  is  reproduced 
very  clearly  in  Frere's  facsimile.  I  may  add  here  that  plate  26a  in  Frere's  book  is  a 
facsimile  of  the  later  MS.  of  the  Winchester  Easter  trope  given  above,  the  musical 
notation  of  which  is  in  neumes. 

At  the  top  of  the  first  of  the  fou.  pages  of  the  facsimile  is  written,  not  in  the  book- 
hand  of  the  rest,  but  in  cursive  script :  "  Condimentis  aromatum  vnguentes  corpus 
sanctissimum  quo  pr<?ciosa.  This  is  a  part  of  the  hymn,  "  Heu  !  plus  pastor  occiditur," 
and  was  probably  written  here  by  some  one  who  remembered  the  hymn  as  a  whole. 

[Ad  faciendam  similitudinem  Domini  sepulcri  primum  proce- 
dant  tres  fratres  induti  dalmaticis] *  sericis 2  capitib«j  uelatis 
quasi  tres  Marie  querentes  Christum,  si«gule  portantes  pixidem 
in  manib«j  quasi  aromatib^J,  quarum  prima  ad  ingressu#z  chori 
usque  sepulcruw  procedat  et 8  quasi  lamentando  dicat : 


Heu !  pius  pastor  occiditur,* 
Quern  nulla  culpa  iiJecit : 
O  mors  lugendal 


1  Supplied  by  me. 

2  MS.  seems  to  have  tends  or  cericis. 
8  MS.  per. 

*  The  Orleans  -version  has  occidit ;  but  the  musical  notation  makes  it  cleat 
that  occiditur  is  the  right  reading  here. 


EASTER    DRAMATIC    OFFICE.  XX111 

Factoqw^  modico  interuallo,  intret l  secunda.  Maria  simili  modo  et 
die  at : 

Heu !  nequam  gens  ludaica, 

Quam  dira  frendet 2  uesania, 
Plebs  execranda! 

Deinde  iij  Maria  consimili  modo: 

Heu !  uerus  doctor  3  obijt, 
Qui  uita/w  fu«ctis4  contulit: 
O  res  plangenda! 

Ad  hue  paululuw  procede«do  prima  Maria  dicat  hoc  modo: 

Heu !  misere  cur  contingit 
Uidere  mortem  Saluatoris? 

Deinde  secund[a]  Maria : 

Heu !  Consolacio  nostra, 
Ut  quid  mortem  sustinuitl 

Deinde  tercia  Maria : 

Heu !  Redempcio  nostra, 
Ut  quid  taliter  agere  uoluit ! 

Tu«c  se  coniu#gant  et  procedant  ad  graduw  chorz  ante   altar* 
dice«tes : 

lam,  iam,  ecce,5  iam  properemus  ad  tumulum 

Ungentes  Dilecti  corpus  sanctissimum ! 

Tu#c  secunda.  Maria  dicat  per  se : 

Nardi  uetet  commixtio, 
Ne  putrescat  in  tumulo 
Caro  beata! 

1  MS.  intre  t  (n  erased,  but  still  visible). 

2  Orleans  frendens. 

8  Orleans  has  pastor  here  as  -well  as  above. 

4  MS.  clearly  has  fuwctis ;  Orleans  has  sanctis. 

5  MS.  efie. 


XXiv  EASTER    DRAMATIC    OFFICE. 

Deinde  tercia  Maria  : 

Sed  nequimus  hoc  patrare  l  sine  adiutorio. 
Quisnam  saxum  hoc  reuoluit  a  monument!  ostio  ? 

Facto  interuallo,  angelus  nixus  sepulcruw  appariat  eis  et  dicat 
hoc  modo  : 

Quern  queritis  ad  sepulcrum,2  o  Cristicole? 

Deinde  respo«deant  tres  Marie  simul  : 

Nazarenum  crucifixum,  o  celicola  ! 


Tu«c  angelus  dicat  sic  : 

Surrexit,  non  est  hie,  sicut  dixit; 
Uenite  et  uidete  locum  ubi  positus  fuerat. 

Deinde  predtcte  Marie  sepulcruw  intrent  inclinantes  se  et  pro- 
spicientes  undiq«<?  intra  sepulcru;//,  alta  uoce  quasi  gaudendo  et 
admirantes  et  paruw  a  sepulcro  recedentes  dicawt  simul  : 

Alleluya  !  resurrexit  Dominus  ! 
Alleluya  !  resurrexit  Dominus  hodie  ! 
Resurrexit  potens,  fortis,  Christus,  Filius  Dei! 

Deinde  ang<?l#s  ad  eas  dicens  : 

Et  euntes  dicite  discipulis  eius  et  Petro  quia  surrexit. 

In  qua  reu^rtant  ad  angelum  quasi  mandatuvz  suu/«  ad  imple«duw 
parate  dicentes  simul  : 

Eya  !  pergamus  propere 
Mandatum  hoc  perficere  ! 

Interim  ueniant  ad  ingressu/#  chor/'  due  p<?rsone  nude  pedes 
sub  personis  apostolorum  lohannis  et  Pet/7  indute  albis  sine 
paruris  cu/«  tunicis,  quar«w  lohannes  amictus  tunica  alba  pal- 
maw  in  manu  gestans,  Petrus  uefo  rubea  tunica  indutus  claues  in 

1  Most  other  versions  of  this  line  have  patere,  but  patrare  seems  preferable. 

2  Usually  in  sepulcro. 


EASTER    DRAMATIC    OFFICE.  XXV 

manu  deferens ;  et  pr^dicte  mulieres  de    sepulcro  reuertentes  et 
quasi  de  choro  simul  exeurites,  dicat  prima  Maria  sequenciam : 

Victime  paschali  laudes 
Immolant   Christia.n\. 

Secunda.  Maria : 

Agnus  redemit  cues : 
Chris tus  innocens  Patri 
Reconsiliauit  peccatores. 

Tercia  Maria  dicat: 

Mors  et  uita  duello 
Confl[i]xere  l  mirando : 
Dux  uite  mortuus  2 
Regnat  uiuus. 

Tu«c  obuiantes  eis  in  medio  chori  predicti  discipuli,  interrogantes 
simul  dicant : 

Die  nobis,  Maria, 

Quid  uidisti  in  uia  ? 

Tu«c  przma.  Maria  respondeat  quasi  monstrando: 

Sepulcrum  Christi  uiuentis, 
Et  gloriam  uidi  resurgentis. 

Tu«c  ij  Maria  resfondeat  quasi  mo«strando  : 
Angelicos  testes, 
Sudarium  et  uestes. 

Tercia  Maria  respondeat : 

Surrexit  Christus,  spes  nostra, 
Precedet  uos  in  Galileam. 

Et  sic  pr^cedant3  simul  ad  ostium  chori ;  et  interim  currant  duo 
ad  monumentutfz ;  ueruwptamen  ille  discip«lws  que;«  diligebat 
Ihesus  uenit  prior  ad  monume«tuw,  iuxta  euangdiuw :  "  Curre- 

1  Every  '.race  ofi  has  disappeared. 

2  MS.  mortuis. 

3  MS.  pr^cedant. 


XXVI  EASTER    DRAMATIC    OFFICE. 

bant  ZMtem  duo  sim«l  et  ille  alius  discipulus  1  pr^cucurrit  cicius 
Petro  et  uenit  prior  ad  monume»tu/*2,  non  tamen  introiuit." 
Uidentes  discipuli  sepulcruw  uacuum  et  uerbis  Marie  credentes 
reu£rta«t  se  ad  chorum  dicentes  hoc  modo : 

Credendum  est  magis  soli  Marie  ueraci 
Quam  ludeorum  turbe  fallaci ! 

Tune  audito    Christ\   resurreccione,  chorus   pr0sequat»r   alta 
uoce  quasi  gaude«tes  et  exultantes  sic  dica«t : 

Scimus  Christum,  surrexisse 

A  mortuis  uere. 

Tu  nobis,  uictor  Rex,  miserere  ! 

Qua  finita,2  executor  officii  incipiat : 
Te,  Deum,  laudamus. 

l  MS.  discipulis.  2  Possibly  facta. 


FRAGMENTS    OF    LITURGICAL    PLAYS. 


The  following  document  was  published  in  The  Academy,  January  u,  1890,  pp. 
27  ff.,  by  the  Rev.  Professor  W.  W.  Skeat.  The  MS.,  belonging  to  the  library  of 
Shrewsbury  School,  consists  of  forty-two  leaves  —  five  quires  of  eight  leaves  (one 
leaf  cut  out)  and  one  quire  of  three  leaves.  The  first  thirty-six  leaves  contain 
Latin  anthems;  the  plays  begin  on  leaf  38.  Dr.  Skeat  assigns  the  MS.  to  the 
beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

The  claim  of  these  fragments  upon  the  attention  of  scholars  is  even  greater  than 
Dr.  Skeat  declared  it  to  be.  We  have  here,  not  merely  fragments  of  a  hitherto 
unrepresented  set  of  plays,  but  the  only  known  example  of  a  class  of  plays,  the 
existence  of  which  is  otherwise  established,  but  the  nature  of  which,  and  their 
relations  to  the  craft-cycles,  could  hardly  be  set  forth  with  certainty  but  for 
the  discovery  of  this  document.  It  is,  indeed,  a  fragment,  not,  as  Dr.  Skeat 
suggests,  of  the  lost  Beverley  cycle,  or  any  similar  collection,  but  of  a  series  of 
plays  performed  in  a  church  on  the  days  and  in  the  service  celebrating  the  events 
of  which  the  plays  treat.  This  is  clearly  established  by  the  phraseology  of  the 
Latin  with  which  the  second  and  third  plays  begin,  —  the  beginning  of  the  first  is, 
as  will  be  seen,  missing. 

Dr.  Skeat  points  out  the  fact  that  many  of  the  Latin  passages  are  provided 
with  a  musical  notation  and  that  some  of  them  are  from  the  Gospels.  That  they 
are  noted  for  singing  arises  from  their  being  in  reality  parts  of  the  troped  service 
of  the  Church  for  the  days  to  which  the  plays  belong.  Details  as  to  this  will  be 
given  in  the  Notes,  in  vol.  Ill;  here  let  it  suffice  to  direct  attention  to  this  inter- 
esting illustration  of  the  manner  in  which,  in  the  later  stages  of  the  liturgical 
drama,  the  liturgical  texts  appear  side  by  side  with  the  vernacular  additions. 

As  Dr.  Skeat  has  shown,  we  have  here  a  MS.  prepared  for  the  use  of  a  single 
actor,  and  containing  only  his  part  and  his  cues.  In  order  to  make  the  fragments 
intelligible,  I  have,  where  it  seemed  worth  while,  supplied,  on  the  basis  of  simi- 
lar plays,  information  as  to  the  action  and  speeches  omitted. 


XXV111  FRAGMENTS    OF    LITURGICAL    PLAYS. 

I. 

[OFFICIUM  PASTORUM.]* 

Pastores  erant  z'n  regione  eadem  uigilantes  et  custodientes 
gregem  suum.  Et  ecce  angelus  Domini  astitit  iuxta. 
illos  et  timuerunt  timore  magno? 

\The  Star  appears  and  the  A ngels  sing.] 

[n.  PASTOR.]  8    We,  Tib ! 

in.  PASTOR.  Telle  on! 

[n.  PASTOR.] Me  nyght. 

in.  PASTOR.     Brether,  what  may  Mis  be, 

TAus  bright  to  man  and  best?  7 

[n.  PASTOR.] at  hand. 

in.  PASTOR.     Whi  say  }e  so? 
[ii.  PASTOR.]     .     .     .     .     .     .     warand.  10 

in.  PASTOR.     Suche  si^t  was  neu^r  sene 

Before  in  our*  lewery  ; 
Sum  merueles  wil  hit  mene 

T^at  mu«  be  here  in  hy.  14 

[11.  PASTOR.] a  sang.4 

1  MS.  contains  no  heading.  In  the  corresponding  York  play,  to  the 
relations  of  -which  with  this  Dr.  Skeat  has  called  attention,  each  of  the 
three  shepherds  speaks  a  stanza  of  twelve  lines  concerning  the  Messianic 
prophecies  before  the  point  at  which  this  play  begins  is  reached.  Possibly 
this  play  lacks  at  the  beginning,  not  only  a  heading  similar  to  those  of  the 
other  two  plays  of  this  MS.,  but  also  a  speech  by  the  Third  Shepherd ;  but  it 
may  be  that,  in  view  of  the  nature  of  the  church  service,  the  introductory 
speeches  were  regarded  as  unnecessary,  and  that  we  have  the  beginning  of 
the  flay.  2  Noted  for  voices. 

8  Here  and  throughout  the  three  plays  the  speaker's  name  in  brackets  is 
supplied  by  Dr.  Skeat.  Whether  sometimes  the  cue  word  does  not  belong  to 
another  .actor  is  an  idle  question. 

4  In  York  the  First  and  Second  Shepherds  declare  that  they  "  cnn  synge 
itt  alls  wele  as  he  "  ;  to  which  the  Third  Shepherd's  reply  is  similar  to  that 
here. 


FRAGMENTS    OF    LITURGICAL    PLAYS.  XXIX 

in.  PASTOR.     3e  tye>  bothe,  by  thvs,  lijt, 

And  raues  as  recheles  royes  ! 1 
Hit  was  an  angel  bri3t 

Thai  made  Ms  nobulh?  noyes.  19 

[n.  PASTOR.] of  prophecy. 

in.  PASTOR.     He  said  a  barn  schuld  be 

In  Me  burgh  of  Bedlem  born  ; 
And  of  //ris,  mywnes  me, 

Oure  fadres  fond  be  forn.  24 

[n.  PASTOR.] lewus  kyng. 

in.  PASTOR.     Now  may  we  se  the  same 

Eue«  in  our*?  pase  puruayed  ; 
The.  angel  nemed  his  name,  — 

"  Crist,  Saueowr,"  he  saied.  29 

[n.  PASTOR.] not  raue. 

in.  PASTOR.     3one  brightnes  wil  vs  bring 

Vnto  thai  blisful  boure ; 
For  solace  schal  we  syng 

To  seke  oure  Saueo»r.  34 

Transeamus  usguQ  Bethelem,  et  uidcamus  hoc  vcrbum.  quod 
factum  est,  q\\vd fecit  Dominus  et  ostendit  nobis? 

[TJiey  follow  the  Siar.] 

[n.  PASTOR.] to  knawe. 

in.  PASTOR.     For  no-Ming  thar  vs  drede, 

But  thank  God  of  all*  gode  ; 
77ns  light  euer  wil  vs  lede 

To  fynde  thai  frely  fode.  41 

1  In  this  fart  of  York,  which  is  in  a  different  stanza  from  the  rest  pf  the 
flay,  the  resemblances  to  our  fragment  extend  only  to  the  main  course  of 
the  thought  and  an  occasional  phrase. 

2  Noted  for  voices. 


XXX  FRAGMENTS    OF    LITURGICAL    PLAYS. 

[  They  enter  the  stable  and  adore  the  Child,] 

[n.  PASTOR.     Now  wat  }e  what]  1  I  mene. 

in.  PASTOR.     A !  loke  to  me,  my  Lord  der*,2 

A\\e  if  I  put  me  noght  \n  pr<?se ! 
To  suche  a  prince  wzt/zout[en]  3  pen? 

Haue  I  no  presand  thai  may  plese. 
But  lo !  a  horn-spone  haue  I  here 

Thai  may  herbar  an  hundrith  pese : 
77ns  gift  I  gif  the  w/t/z  gode  chere,  — 
Suche  dayntese  wil  do  no  disese. 
Fare-wele  now,  swete  swayn, 

God  graunt  //ze  lifyng  lang  ! 
[i.  PASTOR.     And  go  we  hame  agayn, 

And  mak  mirth  as  we  gang  !]  *  54 

1  After  reaching  Bethlehem  the  shepherds  in  York  adore  the  Child,  each 
speaking  one  stanza  of  twelve  lines.     That  of  the  Third  Shepherd  is  iden- 
tical -with  his  speech  here  and  the  speeches  of  the  others  are  in  the  same 
stanza-form.     Dr.  Skeat  is,  therefore,  right  in  inferring  that  the  -words,  I 
mene,  which  end  the  speech  of  the  Second  Shepherd  in  both  plays,  point  to 
a  practical  identity  of  those  speeches. 

2  Before  this  line  in  MS.  there  is  a  star  referring  to  the  words:  Salua- 
torem,  Christum,  Dominum,  infantem  pannis  inuolutuw,  secunduw  sermo- 
nem  angelicam  (sic).     TJiese  words  are  in  a  later  hand.     They  belong  to  a 
dramatic  trope  (of  Christmas)  which  will  be  given  in  full  in  the  discussion 
of  the  origins  of  the  drama  in  the  Introduction. 

3  Supplied  by  Skeat. 

4  Dr.  Skeat  says:  "  I  supply  these  two  lines  from  the  York  Mysteries, 
and  assign  them  to  the  First  Shepherd  instead  of  to  the  Third,  because  the 
MS.  has  here  two  blank  lines,  showing  that  the  Third  Shepherd  did  not 
speak  them." 


FRAGMENTS    OF    LITURGICAL    PLAYS.  XXXI 

II. 

[OFFICIUM  RESURRECTIONIS.]  l 
Hie  incipit  Officium.  Resurrecciords  m  die  Pasche. 

[Enter  the  three  Marys  on  their  way  to  the  Sepulchre, .] 

in.  MARIA.2     Heu  /  Redemcio  /rrae/, 

Ut  quid  mortem,  sustinuit !  3 

[n.  MARIA.]     payne. 

in.  MARIA.     Alias !  he  thai  men  wend  schuld  by 

AIL?  Israel,  bothe  knyght  and  knaue, 
Why  suffred  he  so  forto  dy, 

Sithe  he  may  alL?  sekenes  saue? 

Heu  !  cur  ligno  fixus  clauis 

Fuit  doctor  tarn  suauis  f 

Heu  /  cur  fuit  ille  natus 

Qui  pvrfodit  eiv&  latus  ?  II 

[n.  MARIA.]     is  oght. 

in.  MARIA.     Alias,  that  we  suche  bale  schuld  bide 

T^at  sodayn  sight  so  forto  see, 
The  best  techer  in  world  wide 

WitA  nayles  be  tacched  to  a  tre ! 
Alias,  that  euer  so  schuld  be-tyde, 

Or  that  so  bold  mo«  born  schuld  be 
For  to  assay  oure  Saueo^r  side 

And  open  hit  with-oute  pite !  20 

1  The  corresponding  York  play  is  printed  below,  pp.  153  ff.     It  is  in  a 
different  metre.     The  character  of  the  York  play  on  the  appearance  of 
Christ  to  Magdalen  suggests  that  it  -was  once  connected  with  a  play  very 
similar  to  this,  especially  when  the  nature  of  the  corresponding  Towneley 
play  is  considered. 

2  In  MS.  the  name  is  written  iija  m  . 

8  What  the  others  probably  said  may  be  seen  above,  p.  xxiii. 


XXX11  FRAGMENTS    OF    LITURGICAL    PLAYS. 

[ALL  THREE.]  l     lam,  iam,  ecce,  iam  properemn?,  ad  tumu- 


Vngentes  Dilecti  corpus  sanctissimum  .'  2 

Et  appropiantes  sepulcro  cantent  : 

[ALL  THREE.]     O  Deus,  quis  reuoluet  nobis  lapidem 

Ab  hostio  monumenti  f'2  24 

[ii.  MARIA.]     ......  him  leid. 

in.  MARIA.     He  Mat  Mus  kyndely  vs  has  kend 

Vn-to  thz.  hole  when?  he  was  hid, 
Sum  socoun?  sone  he  wil  vs  send, 

At  help  to  lift  away  this  lid.  29 

[  They  find  the  stone  rolled  away,  and  learn  from  the  angels  that  Christ 
is  risen.'] 

in.  MARIA.     Alleluya  schal  be  oun?  song, 

Sithe«  Crist,  oun?  Lord,  by  angelic  steuen, 
Schew^J  him  as  mon  hen?  vs  among 

And  is  Goddis  Son,  heghest  \n  heue«.  33 

{The  Marys  return  and  announce  the  Resurrection  to  the  disciples.}3 

[n.  MARIA.]     ......  was  gon. 

[CHORUS.         Die  nobis,  Maria, 

Quid  uidisti  in  uia  f 
I.  MARIA.         Sepulcrum  Christi  rtiuentis, 

Et  gloriam  uidi  resurgentis. 
n.  MARIA.        Angelicas  testes, 

Sudarium  et  uestes. 
in.  MARIA.]     Siirrexit  Christus,  spes  nostra, 

Pr&cedet  vos  in.  Galileam.  !  *  42 

1  Cf.  p.  xxiii,  above. 

2  Noted  for  voices. 

8  A  red  line  here  in  MS. 

*  Skeat  assigns  these  two  lines  to  the  angel  (he  speaks  of  only  one  angef)  ; 
but  there  is  no  reason  why  the  -words  of  the  angels  should  appear  in  this 
MS.  /  have  sr<pplied  in  brackets  all  the  words  from  CHORUS  to  ill. 
MARIA  to  sustain  my  view  that  the  two  lines  belong  to  the  Third  Mary  ; 
cf.  p.  xxv,  above. 


FRAGMENTS    OF    LITURGICAL    PLAYS.  XXX111 

in.  MARIA.     Crist  is  rysen,  wittenes  we ' 

By  tokenes  thai  we  haue  sen  Mis  morn ! 
Oure  hope,  oun?  help,  owre  hele,  is  he, 

And  hase  bene  best,  sithe  we  were  born! 
Yf  we  wil  seke  him  for  to  se, 

Lettes  noght  Mis  lesson  be  for-lorn : 
"  But  gose  euew  vn-to  Galilee  ; 

Thvce  schal  }e  fynd  him  jow  beforn  !  "2  50 


III. 

[OFFICIUM  PEREGRINORUM.]3 
Feria  secunda  in  ebdom'a&a.  Pasche  discipuli  insimul  cantent : 

[CHORUS.]4    Infidelis  incursum  populi 

Fugiamus,  Ihesu5  discipuli! 
Suspenderuwt  Ihesum  patibulo ; 
Nulli  percent  eius  discipulo.6 

[The  disciples  depart ;  Luke  and  Cleophas go  together] 

[LUKE.]  7 fast  to  fle. 

[CLEOPHAS.]     But  if  we  fle,  Mai  wil  vs  fang, 

And  ful  felly  Mai  wil  vs  flay  ;8 
Agayn  to  Emause  wil  we  gang, 

And  fonde  to  get  Me  gaynest  way. 

1 1  suppose  this  speech  to  have  been  preceded  by  similar  ones  from  the 
tther  two  Marys,  but  no  cue  is  given  in  MS. 

2  After  this  a  red  line  in  MS. 

3  Skeat  supplies  as  the  heading:  The  Two  Disciples  going  to  Emmaus. 

4  The  actor  was  one  of  this  Chorus,  or  their  words  would  not  appear 
here. 

6  MS.  ihesum;  corr.  by  Skeat. 

6  Noted  for  voices.    A  red  line  after  this  verse. 

7  This  play  does  not  give  the  name  of  either  speaker.     Skeat  points  out 
that  the  one  who  appears  later  among  the  apostles  is  probably  Cleophas  ; 
the  other,  Luke. 

8  Qy.  slay. 


XXXIV  FRAGMENTS    OF    LITURGICAL    PLAYS. 

And  make  in  mynd  euer  vs  amang 

Of  ourv  gode  Maister,  as  we  may, 
How  he  was  put  to  paynes  strang,  — 

On  th2A.  he  tristed  con  him  be-tray ! 1  13 

I  Jesus  enters  and  talks  with  them.} 2 

[JESUS.] but  agayn. 

[CLEOPHAS.]     By  wywmen  wordis  wele  wit  may  we 

Christ  is  risen  vp  in  gode  aray ; 
For  to  our^-self  thz  sothe  say[d]  3  he, 

Where  we  went  in  this  world  away, 
That  he  schuld  dye  and  doluen  be, 

And  rise  fro  the.  dethe  the  thrid  day. 
And  that  we  my^t  thai  si^t  now  se, 

He  wisse  vs,  Lord,  as  he  wele  may !  22 

[JESUS?] resou»  rijt. 

[CLEOPHAS.]  4  Et  guontam  trzdiderunt  eum  summi  sacer- 
dotes  et  principes  no&tri  zn  daTS\pnadone[m]  3  mortis  et 
crucifixerunt  euro.. 

Right  is  that  we  reherce  by  raw 

The,  maters  that  we  may  on  mene, 
•  How  pr^stis  and  princes  of  our?  lawe 

Ful  tenely  toke  him  horn  be-twen, 
And  dampned  him,  wz't#-oute;z  awe, 

For  to  be  dede  with  dole,5  be-dene  ; 
7%ai  crucified  him,  wele  we  knaw, 

At  Caluary,  wz't^  caris  kene.  34 

1  After  this  -verse  a  red  line  in  MS.    Probably,  as  Skeat  suggests,  Jesus 
enters  here. 

2  This  conversation  in  all  the  plays  on  this  subject  follows  very  closely 
Luke  xxiv,  17-21.  8  Supplied  by  Skeat. 

4  Skeat  does  not  assign  the  Latin  to  any  one ;  he  puts  CLEOPHAS  oppo- 
site the  first  line  of  the  English  -which  follows. 

5  Skeat  has  dele. 


FRAGMENTS    OF    LITURGICAL    PLAYS.  XXXV 

[CLEOPHAS  AND  LUKE.]  1    Dixeru^t  eciam  se  visionem  angt- 
lorum  vidisse,  gut  dicunt  eum  vtuere. 

[LUKE.] wraist. 

[CLEOPHAS.]     The  wywmen  gret,  for  he  was  gem ; 

But  $et  Mai  told  of  meruales  mo  : 
7$ai  saw  angell»J  stondyng  on  Me  ston,  , 

And  sayn  how  he  was  fame  horn  fro. 
Sithen  of  oures  went  ful  gode  wone 

To  se  thai  sijt,  and  said  right  so. 
H  erf  ore  we  murne  and  makw  Mis  mon ; 

Now  wot  tho\i  wele  of  alU?  oure  wo.  45 

[LuKE?] 2 in  pese. 

[CLEOPHAS  AND  LUKE.]  3     Mane   nobiscum,    quoniam  ad- 
uesperascit  et  inclinata  est  tarn  dies.     Alleluya!* 

[They  approach  Emmaus.~\ 
[JESUS.] wight. 

[CLEOPHAS.]  &     Amend  oun?  mournyng,  maister  dere, 

And  fond  our^  freylnes  for  to  felh?! 
Herk,  \ycQther  !   help  to  hold  him  here, 

Ful  nobel  talis  wil  he  vs  telh?!  S3 

[LUKE.] lent 

[CLEOPHAS.]     And  gode  wyne  schal  vs  wont  non, 
For  Mer-to  schal  I  take  entent. 

1  Skeat  does  not  indicate  the  speaker  ;  the  cue  following  he  assigns  to 
Jesus.     It  seems  unlikely  that  a  speech  by  Jesus  existed  between  this  Latin 
and  the  English  in  -which  Cleophas  gives  the  substance  of  it.     I  therefore 
suppose  both  disciples  to  have  recited  the  Latin  and  then  each  to  have  given, 
as  was  usual,  the  sense  of  it,  each  emphasizing  different  features. 

2  It  is  impossible  to  decide  whether  to  assign  this  to  Luke  or  to  Jesus. 

3  Not  indicated  by  Skeat. 

4  Noted  for  voices. 

5  Omitted  by  Skeat. 


XXXVI  FRAGMENTS    OF    LITURGICAL    PLAYS. 

{Jesus  breaks  the  bread,  and,  after  giving  it  to  them,  vanishes.] 

[LuKE.J     ......     he  went.  57 

[CLEOPHAS.]     Went  he  is,  and  we  ne  wot  how, 

For  here  is  noght  left  in  his  sted!  l 
Alias!  where  were  oure  wittis  now? 

With  wo  now  walk  we,  wil  of  red  ! 

[LUKE.]     ......     [he  brak]  2  oure  bred.  62 

[CLEOPHAS.]     Oure  bred  he  brak  and  blessed  hit  ; 

On  mold  were  neuer  so  mased  me//, 
Whe«  that  we  saw  \\\m  by  vs  sit, 

T/iat  we  couthe  noght  consayue  \\\m  th&n.  66 

[LUKE.]     ......     ay. 

\Cleophas  and  Luke  return  to  the  other  disciples,  singing  :] 

[CLEOPHAS  AND  LUKE.]     Quid  agamv&  u&l  dicamu&, 
Ignorantes  quo  <?«///  us, 
QVLI  Doctorem  sciencie 
Et  patrem  consolacionis 
Amisimusf*  72 

[LUKE.]     ......     gode  state 

[CLEOPHAS.]     We  schal  horn  telk,  wzt^-oute#  trayn, 

Bothe  word  and  werk,  how  [that]  hit  was, 
I  se  horn  sitt  samyn  \n  a  playn. 

Forth  e  in  apert  dar  I  not  pas!  77 

[  They  join  the  other  disciples]  * 


[LUKE?]     ...... 

[CLEOPHAS.]     We  saw  hi*«  hoik,  hide  and  hewe  ; 
T/tertore  be  still,  and  stint  3oure  strife! 

1  MS.  slid  ;  corr.  by  Skeat. 

2  Supplied  by  Skeat. 
8  Noted  far  voices. 

4  A  red  line  here  in  MS.     Skeat  interprets  it  as  I  do. 


FRAGMENTS    OF    LITURGICAL    PLAYS.  XXXVU 

Tha\.  hit  was  Crist  ful  wele  we  knewe, 

He  cutt  oun?  bred  w/t^-oute«  knyfe.  82 

[A  II  the  disciples  sing :] 

[CHORUS.]     Gloria  tibi,  Domine, 

Qui  surrexisti  a  mortuis, 
Cum  Patre  et  Sancto  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  secula;  Amen!  1 

[Enter  St.  Thomas,  -who  refuses  to  believe  until  convinced  by  the  appear- 
ance of  Christ^ 

[CHORUS.]     Frater  Thoma,  causa  tristicie 
Nobis  tulit  siimma  leticie  ! 

{.Explicit^ 

1  Noted  for  voices. 

2  Skeat  thinks  a  new  flay  begins  here ;    but  fhe  Incredulity  of  St. 
Thomas  is  not  celebrated  on  Master  Monday, 


PART   I. 


NORWICH    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 


These  two  versions  of  the  pageant  of  the  Grocers  of  Norwich  are  reprinted 
from:  "Norwich  Pageants.  The  Grocers'  Play.  From  a  M.S.  i'i  the  possession 
of  Robt.  Fitch,  Esq.,  F.G.S.  [Privately  printed.]  Norwich,  1^5  j."  The  first  of 
them  was  composed  before  June  16,  1533  ;  the  other,  in  1565. 


I. 

The  Story  of  the.1  Creac/on2  of  Eve,  wz't//  the.  Expel- 
lyng  of  Adam  and  Eve  out  of  Paradyce. 

PATER.     Ego  prtncipium,  Alpha  et  w,  in  altissimis  habito; 

In  the  hevenly  empery  I  am  resydent. 
Yt  ys  not  semely  for  man,  sine  adjutorio, 

To  be  allone,  nor  very  convenyent. 

I  have  plantyd  an  orcheyard  most  congruent 
For  hym  to  kepe  and  to  tylle,  by  contemplac/on. 
Let  us  make  an  adjutory  of  our  formaczbn  7 

To  hys  symylatude,  lyke  in  plasmac/on. 

In-to  Paradyce  I  wyll  nowe  descende 
With  my  mynysters  angelicall  of  our  creaczbn 

To  assyst  us  in  ow^r  worke  thai  we  intende, 

A  slepe  in-to  man  be  sopora^bn  to  sende. 
A  rjbbe  out  of  man«ys  syde  I  do  here  take  ; 

Bothe  flesche  and  bone  I  do  thys  creatur  blysse  ; 
And  a  woman  I  fourme,  to  be  his  make, 

Semblable  to  man  ;  beholde  here  she  ys.  1 6 

1  F.  ye  ;  so  below. 

2  Perhaps  this  ought  to  be  expanded  as  Creacyon. 


2  NORWICH    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

ADAM.     O  my  Lorde  God,  incomprehensyble,  withoute  mysse, 

Ys  thy  hyghe  excellent  magnyfysens. 
Thys  creature  to  me  ys  nunc  ex  ossibus  mezs,  . 

And  virago  I  call  hyr  in  thy  presens, 

Lyke  on-to  me  in  naturall  preemynens. 
Laude,  honor  and  glory  to  the  I  make. 
Bothe  father  and  mother  man  shall  for  hyr  forsake.  23 

PATER.     Than  my  garden1  of  plesure  kepe  thou  suer. 

Of  all  fruts  and  trees  shall  thou  etc  and  f ede, 
Except  thys  tre  of  connyng,  whyle  ye  bothe  indure  ; 

Ye  shall  not  touche  yt,  for  that  I  forbede. 

ADAM.     Thy  precept,  Lorde,  in  will,  worde  and  deede 
Shall  I  observe,  and  thy  request  fulfyll 
As  thou  hast  comwzandyd,  yt  ys  reason  and  skyll.  30 

PATER.      Thys  tre  ys  callyd  of  connyng  good  and  yll ; 
That  day  that  ye  ete  thereof  shall  ye  dye, 
Morte  moriemini,  yf  that  I  do  you  aspye ;  33 

Showe  thys  to  thy  spowse  now  by  and  bye. 

I  shall  me  absent  for  a  time  and  space  ; 
A  warned  man  may  lyve  ;  who  can  it  denye  ? 

I  make  the  lord  therof ;  kepe  wyll  my  place  ; 

If  thou  do  thys,  thou  shall  have  my  grace  ; 
In-to  mortalite  shall  thou  elles  falle. 
Looke  thow  be  obedyent  whan  I  the  calle.  40 

ADAM.     Omnipotent  God  and  hygh  2  Lord  of  all,2 

I  am  thy  servante,  bownde  onder  thyn  obedyens, 
And  thou  my  creatour,  one  God  eternall  ; 

What  thou  comwandest,  I  shall  do  my  dylygens. 

PATER.     Here  I  leve  the,  to  have  experyens, 
To  use  thys  place  in  vertuse  occupac/on, 

For  nowe  I  wyll  retorne  to  myn  habitac/on.  47 

ADAM.     O  lovely  spowse  of  Codes  creaczbn, 

I  leve  the  here  alone,  I  shall  not  tary  longe, 
For  I  wyll  walke  a  whyle  for  my  recreaczbn 

l  A  stroke  over  n.  2  Both  the  h  and  the  11  are  crossed. 


THE    CREATION    AND    FALL,    I.  3 

And  se  over  Paradyce,  that  ys  so  stronge. 

No-thynge  may  hurt  us,  nor  do  us  wronge  ; 
God  ys  ow^r  protectour  and  soverayn 1  guyde  ; 
In  thys  place  no«  yll  thynge  may  abyde.  54 

SERPENS.  O  gemme  of  felycyte  and  femynyne  love, 

Why  hathe  God  und^r  precept  prv?hybyte  thys  frute, 

That  ye  shuld  not  ete  therof  to  your  behofe  ? 

Thys  tre  ys  plesant  w/t^outen  refute.  58 

EVA.     Ne  forte  we  shuld  dye,  and  \han  be  mortall ; 

We  may  not  towche  yt,  by  Codes  com;#andement. 
SERPENS.  Ne-quaq\x&m,  ye  shall  not  dye  perpetuall, 

But  ye  shuld  be  as  godes  resydent, 
Knowyng  good  and  yll  spyrytuall  ; 
No-thyng  can  dere  you  Mat  ys  carnall.  64 

EVA.     For  us  than  now  what  hold  you  best, 

That  we  do  not  ow^r  God  offende  ? 
SERPENS.  Eate  of  thys  apple  at  my  requeste. 

To  the,  Almyghty  God  dyd  me  sende. 

EVA.     Nowe  wyll  I  take  therof  ;  and  I  intende, 
To  plese  my  spowse,  therof 'to  fede, 
To  knew  good  and  yll  for  ow<?r  mede.  71 

ADAM.     I  have  walkyd  abought  for  my  solace  ; 

My  spowse,  how  do  you?  tell  me. 
EVA.     An  angell  cam  from  God«?.y  grace 

And  gaffe  me  an  apple  of  thys  tre. 

Part  therof  I  geffe  to  the  ; 
Eate  therof  for  thy  pleasure, 
For  thys  frute  ys  Godes  own  treasure.  78 

PATER.     Adam,  Adam,  wher  art  thou  thys  tyde  ? 
Before  my  presens  why  dost  thou  not  appere  ? 

[A  large  gap  in  the  MS.  here.] 
Musick. 

Aftyr  that  A  dam  and  Eve  be  drevyn  out  of  Parody  se,  they  schall  speke 
thys  foloyng : 

1  A  stroke  over  n. 


4  NORWICH    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

ADAM.     O,  wzt^  dolorows  sorowe  we  may  wayle  and  weepe  ! 

Alas,  alas,  whye  ware  we  soo  bolde  ? 
Bye  ow^r  fowle  presumpsyon  we  ar  cast  full  depe, 

Fro  pleasur  to  payn,  witA  carys  manye-fold.  84 

EvA.1     With  wonderows  woo,  alas  !  it  cane  not  be  told  ; 

Fro  Paradyse  to  ponyschment  and  bondage  full  strong. 
O  wretchys  that  we  are,  so  ever  we  xal  be  inrollyd  ; 

Therfor  ow^r  handtfj  we  may  wrynge  w/tA  most  dullfull2 
song.  88 

A  nd  so  thei  xall  syng,  walkyng  together  abowt  the  place,  viryngyng  ther 
hands  : 

Wythe  dolorous  sorowe  we  may  wayle  and  wepe 

Bothe  8  nyght  and  daye  in  sorowe,4  sythys  full  depe.  90 

[ff.B.     These  last  2  lines  set  to  tnusick  twice  over  and  again,  for  a  chorus 


II. 

The  Storye  of  the  Temptacz'on  of  Man  in  Paradyce, 
beyng  therin  placyd,  and  t/iQ  Expellynge  of  Man 
and  Woman  from  thence,  newely  renuid6  and 
accordynge  unto  tho.  Skrypture,  begon  thys  yere, 
A°  1565,  A°  7  Eliz. 

ITEM.     Yt  ys  to  be  notyd  thai  when  the  Grocers  Pageant  is  played  itnt\\-owte 
eny  other  goenge  befor  yt,  then  doth  the  Prolocutor  say  in  this  wise  : 

[THE  FIRST  PROLOGUE.] 

Lyke  as  yt  chancyd  before  this  season, 

Owte  of  Codes  Scripture  reuealed,  in  playes 

Was  dyvers  stories  sett  furth,  by  reason, 

Of  pageants  apparellyd  in  Wittson  dayes  ; 
And  lately  be  fallen  into  decayes  ; 

1  F.  Eve.  8  In  p.  at  end  of  preceding  line. 

2  F.  dull  full.  4  F.  sory. 
6  This  note  is  apparently  added  by  F. 
6  F.  renvid. 


THE    CREATION    AND    FALL,    II.  5 

Which  stories  dependyd  in  theyr  orders  sett 

By  severall  devyces,  much  knowledge  to  gett ;  7 

Begynnyng  in  Genesis,  that  story  repleate, 

Of  God  his  creacion  of  eche  lyvynge  thynge, 

Of  heaven  and  oi  erth,  of  fysh  smalle  #«</greate, 

Of  f  owles,  herbe  and  tre,  and  of  all  bestej  crepynge, 
Of  angel,  of  man,  w^/'ch  of  erth  hath  beynge, 

And  oi  th&  fall  of  angell[s],  in  tho.  Apocalyps  to  se  ; 

W/zz'ch  stories  wz'th  the  Skriptures  most  justly  agree.  14 

Then  followed  this  ow^r  pageant,  w^z'ch  sheweth  to  be 
Th&  Garden  of  Eden,  w^/'ch  God  dyd  plante, 

As  yn  the  seconde  chapter  of  Genesis  ye  se  ; 

Wherin  of  frutes  pleasant  no  kynde  therof  shulde  wante; 
In  w^/ch  God  dyd  putt  man  to  cherish  tre  and  plante,1 

To  dresse  and  kepe  Me  grownde,  and  eate  what  frute  hym  lyste, 

Except  //ze  tre  of  knowledge,  Godes  high  wyll  2  to  resyste.         21 

The  story  sheweth  further, that,  after  man  was  blyste, 

The  Lord  did  create  woman  owte  of  a  ribbe  of  man  ; 

W^z'ch  woman  was  deceyvyd  with  the.  Serpents  darkned  myste  ; 
By  whose  synn  ow<?r  nature  is  so  weake  no  good  we  can  ; 
Wherfor  they  were  dejectyd  and  caste  from  thence  than 

Unto  dolloure  and  myseri 8  and  to  traveyle  and  payne 

Untyll  God^r  spryght  renuid  ; 4  and  so  we  ende  certayne.  28 

Note  that  yfther  goeth  eny  other  fageantes  before  ytt  th*  Prolocutor  sayeth 
as  ys  on  th^  other  syde  and  leaveth  owte  this. 

[THE  SECOND  PROLOGUE.] 

THE  PROLOCUTOR.     As  in  theyr  former  pageants  is  semblably 

declared 

Of  Codes  mighty  creac/on  in  every  lyvyng  thynge, 
As  in  the  fyrst  of  Genesis  to  such  it  is  prepared  6 

1  F.  [hym]  taufce.  4  F.  renvid. 

2  F.  wytt.  »  F.  prepared. 

3  F.  nyseri. 


6  NORWICH    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

As  lust  they  have  to  reade  to  memory  to  brynge 
Of  pride  and  tawle  of  angells  that  in  hell  hathe  beinge; 
In  ike.  seconde  of  Genesis  of  mankynde  hys  creacion 
Unto  this  Garden  Eden  is  made  full  preparacion.  7 

And  here  begynneth  ow^r  pageant  to  make  the  declaracion, 
From  the  letter  C  in  ike  chapter  before  saide, 

Howe  God  putt  man  in  Paradyse  to  dresse  yt  in  best  fassion, 
And  that  no  frut    therof  from  hym  shuld  be  denayed, 
Butt  of  the  tre  ol  'yffe  that  man  shuld  be  afraide 

To  eat  of,  least  that  daye  he  eate  yt  he  shuld  dye  ; 

A nd of  womans  creacion  apperinge  by  and  bye;  14 

And  of  Me  Deavills  temptacion  discouv[r]inge  wz't^  a  lye 
The  woman  beinge  weakest,  thai  cawsed  man  to  tast. 

That1  God  dyd  so  offende,  that  even  contynentlye 

Owte  of  the  place  of  joye  was  man  and  woman  cast, 
And  into  so  great  dolloure  and  misery  browght  at  last  ; 

Butt  that  by  God  his  spright  was  comforted  ageyne. 

This  is  of  this  ow^r  pagent  the  some  and  effect  playne.  21 

[THE  CREATION  AND  FALL.] 

GOD  THE.  FATHER.     I   am  Alpha  et   Homega,  my  Apocalyps 
doth  testyfye, 

That  made  all  of  nothinge  for  man  his  sustentacion; 
And  of  this  pleasante  garden  thai  I  have  plante  most  goodlye 

I  wyll  hym  make  the  dresser  for  his  good  recreacion. 

Therfor,  Man,  I  gyve  yt  the,  to  have  thy  delectacion. 
In  eatyng  thou  shalt  eate  of  every  growenge  tre 
Excepte  the  tre  of  knowledge,  the  which  I  forbydd  the;  7 

For  in  what  daye  soever  thou  eatest2  thou  shallt  be 

Even  as  the  childe  of  death  ;  take  hecle  ;  and thus  I  saye, 
I  wyll  the  make  an  helper,  to  comforte  the  alwaye. 

Beholde,  therfore  a  slepe  I  bryng  this  daye  on  the, 

1  F.  inserts  [he].  '*  F.  eaten. 


THE    CREATION    AND    FALL,    II.  7 

And  owte  of  this  thy  ribbe,  that  here  I  do  owte-take, 
A  creature  for  thy  help  behold  I  do  the  make. 
A-ryse,  and  from  thy  slepe  I  wyll  the  nowe  awake, 

Andtske  hyr  unto  the,  that  you  both  be  as  one 

To  comfort  one  thother  when  from  you  I  am  gone.  16 

And,zs  I  saide  before  when  that  thou  wert  alone, 
I  n  eatying  thow  mayst  eate  of  every  tre  here  is, 

Butt  of  Me  tre  of  knowledge  of  good  and  evyll  eate  non, 
Lest  that  thou  dye  the  deth  by  doenge  so  amysse. 
I  wyll  departs  l  now  wher  myn  habitacion  is. 

I  leave  you  here. 

Se  tha\.  ye  have  my  wordes  in  most  high  estimacion. 

Then  Man  and  Woman  speke  bothe. 

[MAN  AND  WOMAN.]     We  thank  the,  mighty  God,  and  gyve 

the  honoracion.  24 

Man  spekethe. 

[MAN.]     Oh  bone  of  my  bones  and  flesh  of  my  flesh  eke, 
Thou  shalt  be  called  Woman,  by-caus  thou  art  of  me. 

Oh  gyfte  of  God  most  goodlye,  that  has  2  us  made  so  lyke, 
Most  lovynge  spowse  I  muche  do  here  rejoyce  of  the. 
WOMAN.    And  I  lykewyse,  swete  lover,  do  much  reioyce  of 
the. 

God  therefore  be  praised,  such  comforte  have  us  gyve 

That  ech  of  us  wz't^  other  thus  pleasantly  do  lyve.  31 

MAN.     To  walke  abowt  this  garden  my  fantasye  me  meve; 
I  wyll  the  leave  alone  tyll  that  I  turne  ageyne  ; 
Farewell,  myn  owne  swete  spouse,  I  leave  the.  to  remayne. 
WOMAN.     And  farewell,  my  dere  lover,  whom  my  hart 
doth  conteyn.  35 

The  Serpent  spekethe. 

[THE  SERPENT.]     Nowe,  nowe,  of  my  purpos  I  dowght  nott 

to  attayne  ; 

I  can  yt  nott  abyde,  in  theis  joyes  they  shulde  be. 
Naye  !  I  wyll  attempt  them  to  syn  unto  theyr  payne  ; 

1  F.  deprote.  2  F.  hast. 


8  NORWICH    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

By  subtylty  to  catch  them  the  waye  I  do  well  se  ; 

Unto  this,  angell  of  lyght  I  shew  mysylfe  to  be, 
With  hyr  for  to  dyscemble  ;  I  fear  yt  nott  at  all, 
Butt  that  unto  my  haight  some  waye  I  shall  hyr  call.  42 

Oh  lady  of  felicite,  beholde  my  voice  so  small ! 

Why  have  God  sayde  to  you,  "Eate  nott  of  every  tre 

That  is  within  this  garden  "  ?     Therein  now  answere  me.    45 

WOMAN.     We  eate  of  all  the  frutte  that  in  the  grownde  we  se, 

Excepte  that  in  the  myddest,  wherof  we  may  nott  taste, 
For  God  hath  yt  forbydd,  therfor  yt  may  nott  be, 

Lest  that  we  dye  the  deth  and  from  this  place  be  caste. 

THE  SERPENT.     Ye  shall  not  dye  //ie  deth;  he  made  you 

butt  agaste  ; 
Butt  God  doth  know  full  well  thai  when  you  eate  of  yt 

Your  eys  shall  then  be  openyd  and  you  shall  at  Me  last 
As  godes  both  good  andzvyll  to  knowe  ye  shall  be  fytt.  53 

WOMAN.     To  be  as  God  1  indede  and  in  his  place  to  sytt, 
Therto  for  to  agre  my  lust  conceyve  somewhatt; 

Besyd<?j  the  tre  is  pleasante  to  gett  wysedome  and  wytt, 
And  nothyng  is  to  be  comparyd  unto  that. 
THE  SERPENT.     Then  take  at  my  request,  and  eate,and 
fere  yt  natt.  58 

Here  she  takyth  and  eatyth,  and  Man  cumyth  in  and  sayeth  unto  hyr  : 

MAN.     My  love,  for  my  solace  I  have  here  walkyd  longe. 

Howe  ys  yt  nowe  with  you  ?     I  pray  you  do  declare. 
WOMAN.    In-dede,  lovely  lover,  the  heavenly  kynge  most  stronge 

To  eate  of  this  apple  his  angell  hath  prepare  ; 
Take  therof  at  my  hande  thother  frutes  amonge, 

For  yt  shall  make  you  wyse  and  even  as  God  to  fare.  64 

Then  Man  taketh  and  eatyth  and  sayethe  : 

[MAN.]     Alack  !  alacke  !  my  spouse,  now  se  I  nakid  we  ar; 
The  presence  of  ow*?r  God  we  can  yt  nott  abyde. 
l  F.  Codes. 


THE    CREATION    AND    FALL,    II.  9 

We  have  broke  his  precepte,  he  gave  us  of  to  care; 

From  God  therfor  in  secrete  in  some  place  lett  us  hide. 
WOMAN.     With  fygge-leavis  lett  us  cover  us,  of  God  we 
be  nott  spyede.  69 

THE  FATHER.     Adam  !  I  saye,  Adam  !     Wher  art  thou  now 
this  tyde, 

That  here  before  my  presence  thou  dost  nott  now  apere  ? 
ADAM.     I  herde  thy  voyce,  oh  Lorde,  but  yett  I  dyd  me  hide. 

For  that  which  I  am  naked  I  more  greatly  dyd  feare.          73 

THE  FATHER.     Why  art  thou  then  nakyd?     Who  so  hath 

cawsyd  the  ? 
MAN.     This  woman,  Lord  and  God,  which  thou  hast  gyven 

to  me. 

THE  FATHER.    Hast  thou  eat  of  /^e  frute  thai  I  forbyd  yt  the? 
Thow  Woman,  why  hast  thou  done  unto  him  thys  trespace  ? 
WOMAN.     The  Serpente  diseayvyd  me  with  that  his  fayer 
face.  78 

THE  FATHER.     Thow  Serpente,  why  dydst  thou  this  wise  pre- 

vente  my  grace, 

My  creatures  and  servanter  in  this  maner  to  begyle  ?  80 

THE  SERPENTE.     My  kynde  is  so,  thou  knowest,  and  that  in 

every  case, — 
Clene  oute  of  this  place  theis  persons  1  to  exile.2 

THE  FATHER.     Cursed  art  for  causynge  my  comwandement  to 

defyle, 

Above  all  cattell  andbezstes.     Remayne  thou  in  the.  fylde; 
Crepe  on  thy  bely  and  eate  duste  for  this  thy  subtyll  wyle; 

The  womans  sede  shall  over-corn  the,  thus  yt8  have  I  wylde. 
Thou,  Woman,  bryngyng  chyldren  wz't^  payne  shall  be 

dystylde, 

And  be  subiect  to  thy  husbonde,  and  thy  lust  shall  p^rtayne  4 
To  hym.     I  hav  determynyd  this  ever  to  remayne.  89 

1  F.  prisons.  8  p.  yt. 

2  F.  excite.  *  F.  prrtayne. 


IO  NORWICH    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

And  to  the,  Man,  for  thai  my  voyce  thou  didst  disdayne, 

Cursed  is  tht  erth  for  ever  for  thy  sake  ; 
Thy  lyvyng  shall  thou  gett  with  swett  unto  thy  payne, 

Tyll  thou  departe  unto  the  erth  [wherof]  I  dyd  the  make. 

Beholde,  theis  letherin  aprons  unto  y0#rselves  now  take.     94 

Lo  !  Man  as  one  of  us  hathe  bene,  good  and  evyll  to  knowe; 
Therfor  I  wyll  exempte  hym  from  this  place  to  aslake, 

Lest  of  the  tre  of  lyfe  he  eate  and  ever  growe. 

Myne  angell,  now  cum  f urth  and  kepe  the  waye  and  porte, 
Unto  th&  tre  of  lyfe  that  they  do  nott  resorte.  99 

THE  AUNGELL.     Departe  from  hence  at  onys  from  this  place  of 
comforte, 

No  more  to  have  axcesse  or  ells  for  to  apere. 
From  this  place  I  exile  you,  that  you  no  more  resorte, 

Nor  ever  do  presume  ageyne  for  to  come  here.  103 

Then  Man  and  Woman  depzttyth  to  th«  nether  farte  of  'th*  pageant,  and  Man 
sayeth : 

[MAN.]  Alack!  mynowne  sweteharte,  how  am  I  stroke  wzt/2  fear, 
That  from  God  am  exiled  and  brow^/zt  to  payne  and  woo. 

Oh!  what  have  we  lost !     Why  dyd  we  no  more  care, 

And  to  what  kynd  of  place  thatt  we  resort  and  goo  ? 
WOMAN.     Indede  into  the  worlde  now  must  we  to  and  fro, 

And  where  or  how  to  rest  I  can  nott  saye  at  all. 

I  am  even  as  ye  ar,  what-so-ever  me  be-fall.  no 

Then  cmneth  Dolor  and  Myserye  and  taketh  Man  by  both  armys  and  Dolor 
sayeth : 

[DOLOR.]     Cum  furth,  O  Man,  take  hold  of  me  ! 

Through  envy  hast  lost  thy  heavenly  lyght 
By  eatynge  ;  in  bondage  from  hence  shall  be. 

Now  must  thou  me,  Dolor,  have  always  in  sight.  114 

MYSERYE.    And  also  of  me,  Myserye,  thou  must  taste  and  byte> 
Of  hardenes  and  of  colde  and  eke  of  infirmitie  ; 


THE    CREATION    AND    FALL,    II.  II 

Accordinge  to  desarte  thy  portion  is,  of  right, 

To  enioye  that  in  me  that  is  withoute  certentye.  118 

ADAM.     Thus  troublyd,  nowe  I  enter  into  Dolor  and  Miserie. 

Nowe,  Woman,  must  we  lerne  ow<?r  lyvyng<?j  to  gett 
With  labor  and  with  travell ;  ther  is  no  remedye, 

Nor  eny-thyng  therfrom  we  se  that  maye  us  lett.  122 

Then  cumyth  in  the  Holy  Ghost  comforting-  Man  and  sayeth  : 

[THE  HOLY  GHOST.]     Be  of  good  cheare,  Man,  and  sorowe 
no  more  ; 

This  Dolor  and  Miserie  that  then  thou  hast  taste 
Is  nott  in  respecte,  layd  up  in  store, 

To  tht  joyes  for  the  that  ever  shall *  last. 

Thy  God  doth  not  this  the  away  to  cast, 
But  to  try  the  as  gold  is  tryed  in  thz  fyer  ; 
In  the  end,  premonyshed,  shalt  have  thy  desire.  129 

Take  owte  of  the  Gospell  thai  yt  the  requyre, 

Fayth  in  Chryst  Jhesu  and  grace  thatt  ensewe. 

I  wylbe  thy  guyde  and  pay  the  thy  hyer 

For  all  thy  good  dylygence  and  doenge  thy  dewe. 
Gyve  eare  unto  me,  Man,  and  than  yt  ys  trewe, 

Thou  shalt  kyll  affectey  thai  by  lust  in  the  reygne, 

And  put  Dolor  and  Mysery  and  Envy  to  payne.  136 

Theis  armors  ar  preparyd,  yf  thou  wylt  turne  ageyne ; 

To  fyght  wyth,  take  to  the,  and  reach  Woman  the  same: 
The  brest  plate  of  rightousnes  Saynte  Paule  wyll  the  retayne ; 

The  shylde  of  faythe  to  quench,  thy  fyrye  dartestotame; 

The  hellmett  of  salvacion  the  devylls  wrath  shall  lame; 
And  th&  sworde  of  th&  spright,  w^z'ch  is  the.  worde  of  God,  — 
All  theis  ar  nowe  the  offred  to  ease  thy  payne  and  rodd.  143 

ADAM.     Oh !   prayse  to  the,  Most  Holye,  thai  hast  wz't^  me 

abode, 
In  mysery  premonyshynge  by  this  thy  Holy  Spright 

l  F.  shalt. 


12  NORWICH    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

Nowe  fele  I  such  great  cowforte,  my  syns  they  be  unlode 

And  layde  on  Chrystes  back,  w^/ch  is  my  joye  and lyght. 

This  Dolor  and  this  Mysery  I  fele  to  me  no  wight ; 
No  !  Deth  is  overcuw  by  fore  predestinacion, 
And  we  attayned  wyth  Chryst  in  heavenly  consolacion.      150 

Therfor,  myne  owne  swett  spous,  wzt^outen  cavylacion 
Together  lett  us  synge,  andleit  our  haries  reioyse 
And  gloryiye  ower  God  wyth  mynde,  powre  and  voyse.     153 
Amen. 

[Old  musick,  Triplex,  Tenor,  Medius,  Bass :  ]  » 

With  hart  andvoyce 
Let  us  reioyce 

Andprayse  the  Lord  alwaye 

For  this  our  joyfull  daye, 
To  se  of  this  our  God  his  maiestie, 
Who  2  hath  given  himsellfe  over  us  to  rayne  and  to  gov<?rne  us. 

Lett  all  our  harte[s]  reioyce  together, 

And  lett  us  all  lifte  up  our  voyce,  on  of  us  with  another.   161 

1  Apparently  added  by  F. 

"  F.  Who  the  hath.    Perhaps  something  is  lost  that  is  necessary  to  the 
regularity  of  the  stanza. 


TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 


Reprinted  from  advance  sheets  of  the  edition  of  the  Early  English  Text  Society. 
I  have  not  reproduced  the  crosses,  tags,  and  curls  usually  attached  in  this  MS.  to 
U,  th,  ht,  t,f,  and  r,  for  they  seem  mere  flourishes.  The  MS.  dates  from  the  second 
half  of  the  fifteenth  century.  In  the  footnotes,  M.  indicates  Matzner's  "Alteng- 
lische  Sprachproben,"  I,  i,  pp.  357  ff. 


Processus  Noe  cum  filiis.     Wakefield. 

NOE.     Myghtfull  God  veray,  /  maker  of  all  that  is, 
Thre  persons,  withoutten  nay,  /  oone  God  in  endles  blis, 
Thou  maide  both  nyght  &  day,  /  beest,  fovvle,  &  fysh ; 
All  creatures  that  lif  may/  wroght  thou  at  thi  wish, 

As  thou  wel  myght; 
The  son,  the  moyne,  verament, 
Thou  maide;  the  firmament ; 
The  sternes  also  full  feruent 

To  shyne  thou  maide  ful  bright ;  9 

Angels  thou  maide  ful  euen,  /  all  orders  that  is, 
To  haue  the  blis  in  heuen  : — /this  did  thou  more  &  les. 
ffull  mervelus  to  neuen,/yit  was  ther  vnkyndnes, 
More  bi  ioldt's  seuen/  then  I  can  well  expres; 

ffor  why 

Of  all  angels  in  brightnes 
God  gaf  Lucifer  most  lightnes, 
Yit  prowdly  he  flyt  his  des, 

And  set  hym  euen  hym  by.  18 


14  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

He  thoght  hymself  as  worthi/  as  hym  that  hym  made, 
In  brightnes,  in  bewty.  /  Therfor  he  hym  degrade; 
Put  hym  in  a  low  degre  /  soyn  after,  in  a  brade, 
Hym  and  all  his  menye,  /  wher  he  may  be  vnglad 

ffor  euer. 

Shall  thay  neu<?r  wyn  away, 
Hence  vnto  domysday, 
Bot  burn^  in  bayle  for  ay  ; 

Shall  thay  neuer  dysseu^r.  27 

Soyne  after  that  gracyous  Lord  /  to  his  liknes  maide  man, 
That  place  to  be  restord  /  euen  as  he  began, 
Of  the  Trinite  bi  accord,/  Adam,  &  Eue  that  woman. 
To  multiplie  wzt/zout  discord  /  in  paradise  put  he  thaym, 

And  sithen  to  both 
Gaf  in  cowzmaundement, 
On  the  tre  of  life  to  lay  no  hend; 
Bot  yit  the  fals  feynd 

Made  hym  wz't^  man  wroth,  36 

Entysyd  man  to  glotony,  /  styrd  him  to  syn  in  pride  ; 
Bot  in  paradise,  securly,  /  myght  no  syn  abide, 
And  therfor  man  full  hastely/  was  put  out,  in  thai  tyde, 
In  wo  &  wandreth  for  to  be;/  l  paynes  full  vnrid 

To  knawe,  2 

ffyrst  in  erth,  sythen  8  in  heli 
W/tfc  feyndz-r  for  to  dwell, 
Bot  he  his  mi?rcy  mell 

To  those  that  will  hym  trawe.  45 

Oyle  of  mercy  he  hus  hight,  /  as  I  haue  hard  red, 
To  eu^ry  lifyng  wight  /  that  wold  luf  hym  and  dred  ; 
Bot  now  before  his  sight/  eu^ry  liffyng  leyde 
Most  party  day  and  nyght/  syn  in  word  and  dede 
ffull  bold; 

1  E.  E.  T.  S.  has  In  paynes. 

2  MS.  knowe. 

8  E.  E.  T.  S.  has  in  sythen  in ;  M.  reads  and  sythen. 


NOAH  S    FLOOD.  I  5 

Som  in  pride,  ire,  and  enuy, 
Som  in  couetyse l  &  glotyny, 
Som  in  sloth  and  lechery, 

And  other  wise  many-fold.  54 

Therfor  I  drede  lest  God  /  on  vs  will  take  veniance, 
ffor  syn  is  now  alod/  without  any  repentance; 
Sex  hundreth  yeris  &  od/  haue  I,  without  distance, 
In  erth,  as  any  sod,  /  liffyd  with  grete  grevance 

All-way ; 

And  now  I  wax  old, 
Seke,  sory,  and  cold, 
As  muk  apon  mold 

I  widd^r  away  ;  63 

Bot  yit  will  I  cry/  for  mercy  and  call; 
Noe  thi  seruant  am  I,/  Lord,  ou^r-all  ! 
Therfor  me  and  my  fry,  /  shal  w/t/z  me  fall, 
Saue  from  velany  /  and  bryng  to  thi  hall 

In  heuen; 

And  kepe  me  from  syn 
This  warld  within; 
Comly  Kyng  of  mankyn, 

I  pray  the  here  my  stevyn  !  72 

DEUS.     Syn  I  haue  maide  all  thyng/  that  is  liffand, 
Duke,  emperour,  and  kyng  /  wz't/z  myne  awne  hand, 
ffor  to  haue  thare  likyng/  bi  see  &  bi  sand, 
Eu<?ry  man  to  my  bydyng  /  shuld  be  bowand 

ffull  feruent, 

That  maide  man  sich  a  creatoure, 
ffarest  of  favoure. 
'Man  must  luf  me  paramoure, 

By  reson,  and  repent.  8 1 

Me  thoght  I  shewed  man  luf/  when  I  made  hym  to  be 
All  angels  abuf,  /  like  to  the  Trynyte; 

l  MS.  Couetous;  corr.  by  M. 


16  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

And  now  in  grete  reprufe/  full  low  ligts  he, 

In  erth  hywself  to  stuf/  with  syn  that  displeasse  me 

Most  of  all; 
Veniance  will  I  take 
In  erth  for  syn  sake, 
My  grame  thus  will  I  wake 

Both  of  grete  and  small.  90 

I  repente  full  sore/  that  tner  maide  I  man, 

Bi  me  he  settz'-y  no  store/  and  I  am  his  soferan; 

I  will  distroy  therfor/  both  beest,  man,  and  woman, 

All  shall  perish,  les  and  more;/  that  bargan  may  thay  ban 

That  ill  has  done. 
In  erth  I  se  right  noght 
Bot  syn  that  is  vnsoght; 
Of  those  that  well  has  wroght 

ffynd  I  bot  *  a  f  one.  99 

Therfor  shall  I  fordo/  all  this  medill-erd 
With  fioodts  that  shall  flo/  &  ryn  wz't^  hidous  rerd; 
I  haue  good  cause  therto;  /  ffor  me  no  man  is  ferd; 
As  I  say  shal  I  do,  /  of  veniance  draw  my  swerd, 

And  make  end 
Of  all  that  beris  life, 
Sayf  Noe  and  his  wife, 
ffor  thay  wold  neuer  stryfe 

me  then2  me  offend.  108 


Hym  to  mekill  wyn  /  hastly  will  I  go, 

To  Noe  my  s<?ruand,  or  I  blyn,  /  to  warn  hym  of  his  wo. 

In  erth  I  se  bot  syn,/  reynand  to  and  fro, 

Emang  both  more  &  myn,  /  ichon  other  fo 

Wz't^  all  thare  entent; 
All  shall  I  fordo 
WM  floods  that  shall  floo, 
Wirk  shall  I  thaym  wo, 

That  will  not  repent.  117 

l  MS.  bot.  2  MS.  then  ;  E.  E.  T.  S.  ne. 


NOAH'S  FLOOD.  17 

\God  descends  and  comes  to  Noah.~\  * 

Noe,  my  freend,  I  thee  cowzmaund,/  from  cares  the  to  keyle, 
A  ship  that  thou  ordand  /  of  nayle  and  bord  ful  wele. 
Thou  was  alway  well  wirkand,  /  to  me  trew  as  stele, 
To  my  bydyng  obediand;/  frendship  shal  thou  fele 

To  mede. 

Of  lennthe  thi  ship  be 
Thre  hundreth  cubettw,  warn  I  the, 
Of  heght  euen  thirte,2 

Of  fyfty  als  in  brede.  126 

Anoynt  thi  ship  wzt^  pik  and  tar  /  w/t^out  &  als  w/t^in, 
The  water  out  to  spar/  this  is  a  noble  gyn; 
Look  no  man  the  mar;/  thre  chese8  chambres  begyn; 
Thou  must  spend  many  a  spar/  this  wark  or  thou  wyn 

To  end  fully. 
Make  in  thi  ship  also 
PtfHoures  oone  or  two, 
And  houses  of  offyce  mo 

ffor  beest/f  that  ther  must  be.  135 

Oone  cubite  on  hight/  a  wyndo  shal  thou  make; 
On  the  syde  a  doore  wz'tA  slyght/  be-neyth  shal  thou  take; 
With  the  shal  no  man  fyght  /  nor  do  the  no  kyn  wrake. 
When  all  is  doyne  thus  right,  /  thi  wife,  that  is  thi  make, 

Take  in  to  the; 
Thi  sonnes  of  good  fame, 
Sem,  laphet,  and  Came, 
Take  in  also  [tjhame,4 

Thare  wltzs  also  thre.  144 

ffor  all  shal  be  fordone/  that  lif  in  land  bot  ye, 

Wz't^  floods  that  from  abone/  shal  fall,  &  that  plente; 

It  shall  begyn  full  sone/  to  rayn  vncessantle, 

1  Supplied  by  E.  E.  T.  S.  3  MS.  chefe. 

2  E.  E.  T.  S.  thrirte.  *  Corr.  by  M. 


1  8  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 


dayes  seuen  be  done,  /  and  induyr  dayes  fourty, 

W/tfcoutten  fayll. 
Take  to  thi  ship  also 
Of  ich  kynd  beest/j  two, 
Mayll  &  femayll,  bot  no  mo, 

Or  thou  pull  vp  thi  sayll.  153 

ffor  thay  may  the  avayll/  when  al  this  thyng  is  wroght; 
Stuf  thi  ship  wz't^  vitayll,  /  ffor  hungre  that  ye  parish  noght, 
Of  beestz>,  foull,  and  catayll,  /  ffor  thaym  haue  thou  in  thoght; 
ffor  thaym  is  my  counsayll/  that  som  socour  be  soght 

In  hast; 

Thay  must  haue  corn  and  hay, 
And  oder  mete  alway; 
Do  now  as  I  the  say, 

In  the  name  of  the  Holy  Cast.  162 

NOE.     A  !  benedicite  !  /  what  art  thou  that  thus 
Tellys  afore  that  shall  be?/     Thou  art  full  m^rvelus  ! 
Tell  me,  for  charite,  /  thi  name  so  gracius. 
DEUS.     My  name  is  of  dignyte/  and  also  full  glorius 

To  knawe.1 

I  am  God  most  myghty, 
Gone  God  in  Trynyty, 
Made  the  and  ich  man  to  be: 

To  luf  me  well  thou  awe.  171 

NOE.     I  thank  the,  Lord  so  dere,  /  that  wold  vowch-sayf 

Thus  low  to  appere  /  to  a  symple  knafe; 

Blis  vs,  Lord,  here;/  for  charite  I,  hit  crafe; 

The  better  may  we  stere/  the  ship  that  we  shall  hafe, 

Certayn. 

DEUS.     Noe,  to  the  and  to  thi  fry 
My  blyssyng  graunt  I  : 
Ye  shall  wax  and  multiply, 

And  fill  the  erth  agane,  180 

l  MS.  knowe. 


NOAH'S    FLOOD.  IQ 

When  all  thise  fioodzs  ar  past/  and  fully  gone  away. 
NOE.     Lord,  homward  will  I  hast/  as  fast  as  that  I  may; 
My  [wife]1  will  I  frast/what  she  will  say,        [Exit  Deus .] » 
And  I  am  agast  /  that  we  get  som  fray 

Betwixt  vs  both; 
ffor  she  is  full  techee,2 
ffor  litill  oft  angre, 
If  any-thyng  wrang  be, 

Soyne  is  she  wroth.  189 

Tune  pvtget  ad  vxorem. 

God  spede,  dere  wife,  /  how  fayre  ye  ? 

VXOR.     Now  as  euer  myght  I  thryfe,  /  the  wars  I  thee  see 

Do  tell  me  belife,  /  where  has  thou  thus  long  be  ? 

To  dede  may  we  dryf e  /  or  lif  for  the, 

ffor  want. 

When  we  swete  or  swynk, 
Thou  dos  what  thou  thynk, 
Yit  of  mete  and  of  drynk 

Haue  we  veray  skant.  198 

NOE.     Wife,  we  ar  hard  sted/  with  tythyngis  new. 
VXOR.     Bot  thou  were  worthi  be  cled  /  in  Stafford  blew; 
ffor  thou  art  alway  adred,  /  be  it  fals  or  trew. 
Bot  God  knowes  I  am  led,  /  and  that  may  I  rew 

ffull  ill; 

ffor  I  dar  be  thi  borow, 
ffrom  eutfn  vnto  morow 
Thou  spek/j  euer  of  sorow: 

God  send  the  onys  thi  fill!  207 

We  women  may  wary/  all  ill  husband/j. 
I  have  oone,  bi  Mary  /  that  lowsyd  me  of  my  band/j  ! 
If  he  teyn,  I  must  tary,  /  how-so-eu^r  it  stand/j, 
With  seymland  full  sory,  /  wryngand  both  my  hand/j 
ffor  drede. 

1  Supplied  by  E.  E.  T.  S,  2  g.  E.  T.  S.  tethee. 


2O  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

Bot  yit  other  while, 

What  with  gam  &  wz't^  gyle, 

I  shall  smyte  and  smyle, 

And  qwite  hym  his  mede.  216 

NOE.     We  !  hold  thi  tong,  ram-skyt,/  or  I  shall  the  still. 

VxOR.     By  my  thryft,  if  thou  smyte,  /  I  shal  turne  the  vntill. 

NOE.     We  shall  assay  as  tyte./  Haue  at  the,  Gill ! 

Apon  the  bone  shal  it  byte./ 

VXOR.  A,  so,  Mary  !  thou  smytis  ill  I 

Bot  I  suppose 
I  shal  not  in  thi  det 
fflyt  of  this  flett! 
Take  the  ther  a  langett 

To  tye  vp  thi  hose  !  [Striking  him.]  225 

NOE.     A!  wilt  thou  so  ?/  Mary,  that  is  myne. 

VXOR.  Thou  shal  [have]  thre  for  two,  /  I  swere  bi  Godts  pyne. 

NOE.     And  I  shall  qwyte  the  tho,  /  in  fayth,  or  syne. 

VXOR.    Out  apon  the,  ho  !/ 

NOE.  Thou  can  both  byte  and  whyne 

W/t/fc  a  rerd! 
ffor  all  if  she  stryke, 
Yit  fast  will  she  skryke; 
In  fayth,  I  hold  none  slyke 

In  all  medill-erd;  234 

Bot  I  will  kepe  charyte,  /  ffor  I  haue  at  do. 

VXOR.     Here  shal  no  man  tary  the;/  I  pray  the  go  to! 

ffull  well  may  we  mys  the,  /  as  euer  haue  I  ro. 

To  spyn  will  I  dres  me.  / 

NOE.  We  !  fare  well,  lo; 

Bot,  wife, 

Pray  for  me  besele, 
To  eft  I  com  vnto  the. 
VXOR.     Euen  as  thou  prays  for  me, 

As  euer  myght  I  thrife.  243 


NOAH'S  FLOOD.  21 

NOE.     I  tary  full  lang  /  fro  my  warke,  I  traw  ; 
Now  my  gere  will  I  fang  /  and  thederward  draw. 
I  may  full  ill  gang,  /  the  soth  for  to  knaw. 
Bot  if  God  help  amang,  /  I  may  sit  downe  daw 

To  ken  ; 

Now  assay  will  I 
How  I  can  of  wrightry, 
In  nomine  Patrzs,  &>  Filii, 

Et  Spiritus  Suncti,  Amen.  252 

To  begyn  of  this  tree  /  my  bonys  will  I  bend ; 

I  traw  from  the  Trynyte  /  socoure  will  be  send. 

It  fayres  full  fayre,  thynk  me,/  this  wark  to  my  hend1, 

Now  blissid  be  he  /  that  this  can  amend. 

Lo,  here  the  lenght, 
Thre  hundreth  cubettz'-f  euenly  ; 
Of  breed,  lo  !  is  it  fyfty  ; 
The  heght  is  euen  thyrty 

Cubett/j  full  stre#ght.  261 

Now  my  gowne  will  I  cast,  /  and  wyrk  in  my  cote  ; 
Make  will  I  the  mast,  /  or  I  flyt  oone  foote. 
A  !  my  bak,  I  traw,  will  brast !  /  this  is  a  sory  note  ! 
Hit  is  wonder  that  I  last,  /  sich  an  old  dote 

All.dold! 

To  begyn  sich  a  wark, 
My  bonys  ar  so  stark, 
No  wonder  if  thay  wark, 

ffor  I  am  full  old.  270 

The  top  and  the  sayll/  both  will  I  make  ; 
The  helm  and  the  castell  /  also  will  I  take  ; 
To  drif e  ich  a  nayll  /  will  I  not  forsake  ; 
This  gere  may  ntuer  fayll,  /  that  dar  I  vnd^rtake 

Onone. 

This  is  a  nobull  gyn, 
Thise  nayles  so  thay  ryn 
Thoro  more  and  myn, 

Thise  bordz>  ichon  ;  279 


22  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

Wyndow  and  doore,  /  euen  as  he  saide, 
Thre  ches-chambre,  /thay  ar  well  maide  ; 
Pyk  &  tar  full  sure  /  ther-apon  laide  ; 
This  will  euer  endure,  /  therof  am  I  paide  ; 

ffor  why 

It  is  better  wroght 
Then  I  coude  haif  thoght 
Hym  that  maide  all  of  noght 

I  thank  oonly.  288 

Now  will  I  hy  me,  /  and  no-thyng  be  leder, 
My  wife  and  my  meneye  /  to  bryng  euen  heder. 

[Goes  to  find  his  wife.] 

Tent  hedir  tydely,  /  wife,  and  consider  ; 
Hens  must  vs  fle/all  sam  togeder 

In  hast. 

VXOR.     Whi,  syr,  what  alis  you? 
Who  is  that  asalis  you  ? 
To  fle  it  avalis  you 

And  ye  be  agast.  297 

NOE.     Ther  is  garn  on  the  reyll  /  other,  my  dame. 
VXOR.     Tell  me  that  ich  a  deyll,  /  els  get  ye  blame. 
NOE.     He  that  cares  may  keill,  —  /  blissid  be  his  name  !  — 
He  has  [spokyn  ?  ]  *  for  oure  seyll,  /  to  sheld  vs  fro  shame, 

And  sayd, 

All  this  warld  aboute 
With  floodz'-y  so  stoute, 
That  shall  ryn  on  a  route, 

Shall  be  ou^rlaide.  306 

He  saide  all  shall  be  slayn  /bot  oonely  we, 
Oure  barnes,  that  ar  bayn,  /  and  thare  wif/j  thre  ; 
A  ship  he  bad  me  ordayn  /  to  safe  vs  &  oure  fee. 
Therfor  with  all  oure  mayn  /  thank  we  that  fre, 
Beytter  of  bayll. 

1  No  word  nor  gap  in  E.  E.  T.  S. 


NOAH  S    FLOOD.  23 

Hy  vs  fast ;  go  we  thedir  ! 
VXOR.     I  wote  neuer  whedir  ; 

I  dase  and  I  dedir 

if  or  ferd  of  that  tayll.  315 

NOE.     Be  not  aferd  ;  haue  done  ;  /  trus  sam  oure  gere, 
That  we  be  ther  or  none,  /  wzt^out  more  dere. 

I 1  Fii.li/s.     It  shall  be  done  full  sone.  /  Brether,  help  to  here, 
ii  FIL.IUS.    ffull  long  shall  I  not  hoyne/  to  do  my  devere, 

Brether  Sam. 

in  FILIUS.     Without  any  yelp, 
At  my  myght  shall  I  help. 
VXOR.     Yit  for  drede  of  a  skelp 

Help  well  thi  dam.  324 

[  They  go  to  the  A  rk  ;  Uxor  enters  /V.] 

NOE.     Now  ar  we  there  /  as  we  shuld  be  ; 

Do  get  in  oure  gere,  /  oure  catall  and  fe 

In-to  this  vessell  here,  /  my  chyld^r  fre. 

VXOR.     I  was  neuer  bard  ere,  /  as  euer  myght  I  the, 

In  sich  an  oostre  as  this. 
In  fa[i]th,  I  can  not  fynd, 
Which  is  before,  which  is  behynd. 
Bot  shall  we  here  be  pynd, 

Noe,  as  haue  thou  blis  ?      \_Exitfrom  Ark.]  333 

NOE.     Dame,  as  it  is  skill,  /  here  must  vs  abide  grace  ; 
Therfor,  wife,  with  good  will  /  com  into  this  place. 
VXOR.     Sir,  for  lak  nor  for  Gill /will  I  turne  my  face, 
Till  I  haue  on  this  hill/  spon  a  space 

On  my  rok. 

Well  were  he,  myght  get  me  ! 
Now  will  I  downe  set  me  ; 
Yit  reede  I  no  man  let  me, 

ffor  drede  of  a  knok.  ,  342 

1  Here  and  below  MS.  has  the  regular  contracted  forms  of  the  Latin  ordinal 
numerals. 


24  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

NOE.     Behold  to  the  heuen,  /  the  cateractes  all, 
Thay  *•  an?  open  full  euen,  /  grete  and  small, 
And  the  planettw  seuen  /  left  has  thare  stall ; 
Thise  thoners  and  levyn  /  downe  gar  fall 

ffull  stout 

Both  halles  and  bowers, 
Castels  and  towres  ; 
ffull  sharp  ar  thise  showers 

That  renys  aboute  ;  351 

Therfor,  wife,  haue  done  ;  /  com  into  ship  fast. 

VXOR.     Yei,  Noe,  go  cloute  thi  shone,  /  the  better  will  thai  last. 

I  MULIER.     Good  mod*?r,  com  in  sone,  /  for  all  is  ou^r-cast, 

Both  the  son  and  the  mone.  / 

ii  MULIER.  And  many  wynd  blast 

ffull  sharp  ; 

This  floods  so  thay  rin, 
Therfor,  moder,  come  in. 
VXOR.     In  fayth,  yit  will  I  spyn ; 

All  in  vayn  ye  carp.  360 

in  MULIER.     If  ye  like  ye  may  spyn,  /  mod<?r,  in  the  ship. 
NOE.     Now  is  this  twyys  :  com  in,  /  dame,  on  my  frenship. 
VXOR.     Whed*?r  I  lose  or  I  wyn,  /  in  fayth,  thi  felowship, 
Set  I  not  at  a  pyn.  /  This  spyndill  will  I  slip 

Apon  this  hill 
Or  I  htyr  oone  fote. 
NOE.     Peter  !  I  traw  we  a  dote  ; 
Without  any  more  note, 

Come  in  if  ye  will.  369 

VXOR.     Yei,  water  nyghys  so  nere  /that  I  sit  not  dry  ; 
Into  ship  wit  A  a  byr,  /  therfor,  will  I  hy 
ffor  drede  that  I  drone  here.  /  [Rushes  into  the  ship.} 

NOE.  Dame,  securly, 

It  bees  boght  full  dere,  /  ye  abode  so  long  by 
Out  of  ship. 

1  E.  E.  T.  S.  That.  2  Qy.  ye. 


NOAH'S  FLOOD.  2$ 

VXOR.     I  will  not,  for  thi  bydyng, 

Go  from  doore  to  mydyng. 

NOE.     In  fayth,  and  for  youre  long  taryyng, 

Ye  shall  lik  on  the  whip.  378 

VXOR.     Spare  me  not,  I  pray  the,  /  hot  euen  as  thou  thynk, 

Thise  grete  wordw  shall  not  flay  me.  / 

NOE.  Abide,  dame,  and  drynk, 

ffor  betyn  shall  thou  be  /  w/L#  this  staf  to  thou  stynk. 

Ar  stroke  good?  say  me./  [striking her.} 

VXOR.  What  say  ye,  Wat  Wynk  ? 

NOE.     Speke  ! 
Cry  me  mercy,  I  say  ! 

VXOR.     Therto  say  I  nay.  » 

NOE.     Bot  thou  do,  bi  this  day, 

Thi  hede  shall  I  breke.  387 

VXOR.     Lord,  I  were  at  ese  /  and  hertely  full  hoylle, 
Might  I  onys  haue  a  measse  /  of  wedows  coyll ; 
ffor  thi  saull,  w/t/^out  lese,  /  shuld  I  dele  penny  doyll ; 
So  wold  mo,  no  frese,  /  that  I  se  on  this  sole 

Of  \\iiis  that  ar  here, 
ffor  the  life  that  thay  leyd, 
Wold  thare  husband/.?  were  dede  ; 
ffor,  as  euer  etc  I  brede, 

So  wold  I  oure  syre  were.  396 

NOE.     Yee  men  that  has  wiiis,/  whyls  they  ar  yong, 
If  ye  luf  youre  Hit's,  /  chastice  thare  tong. 
Me  thynk  my  hert  ryfw,  /  both  levyr  and  long, 
To  se  sich  stryf is  /  wedmen  emong  ; 

Bot  I, 

As  haue  I  blys, 
Shall  chastyse  this. 
VXOR.     Yit  may  ye  mys, 

Nichdll  Nedy !  \_Figkting  ad  lib.]  405 

NOE.     I  shall  make  the  still  as  stone,  /  begynnar  of  blunder  ! 
I  shall  bete  the,  bak  and  bone,  /  and  breke  all  in  sonder. 


26  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

VXOR.     Out,  alas,  I  am  gone  !  /  oute  apon  the,  mans  woncUrr  ! 
NOE.     Se  how  she  can  grone  /  and  I  lig  vnder  ! 

Bot,  wife, 

In  this  hast  let  vs  ho, 
ffor  my  bak  is  nere  in  two. 
VxQR.     And  I  am  bet  so  bio 

That  I  may  not  thryfe.  414 

I  FILIUS.     A  !  whi  fare  ye  thus,  /  ffad^r  and  moder  both  ? 

II  FILI  ITS.     Ye  shuld  not  be  so  spitus,  /  standyng  in  sich  a 

woth. 
in  FiLitAS1.     Thise  [strifis  ?  ]  J  are  so  hidus,  /  wz't^  many  a  cold 

coth. 
NOE.     We  will  do  as  ye  bid  vs  ;/  we  will  no  more  be  wroth, 

Dere  barnes  ! 

Now  to  the  helme  will  I  hent, 
And  to  my  ship  tent. 
VXOR.     I  se  on  the  firmament, 

Me  thynk,  the  seven  starnes.  423 

NOE.     This  is  a  grete  flood, /wife,  take  hede. 

VXOR.     So  me  thoght,  as  I  stode  ;  /  we  are  in  grete  drede  ; 

Thise  wawghes  ar  so  wode.  / 

NOE.  Help,  God,  in  this  nede  ! 

As  thou  art  stere-man  good,  /  and  best,  as  I  rede, 

Of  all, 

Thou  rewle  vs  in  this  rase, 
As  thou  me  behete  hase. 
VXOR.     This  is  a  parlous  case  : 

Help,  God,  when  we  call !  432 

NOE.     Wife,  tent  the  stere-tre,  /  and  I  shall  asay 
The  depnes  of  the  see  /  that  we  bere,  if  I  may. 
VXOR.     That  shall  I  do  ful  wysely  ;  /  now  go  thi  way, 
ffor  apon  this  flood  haue  we/  flett  many  day 
WziA  pyne. 

1  No  word  nor  gap  in  E.  E.  T.  S. 


NOAH'S  FLOOD.  27 

NOE.     Now  the  water  will  I  sownd  : 
A  !  it  is  far  to  the  grownd  ; 
This  trauell,  I  expownd, 

Had  I  to  tyne.  441 

Aboue  all  hillys  bedeyn/  the  water  is  rysen  late 

Cubett/j  fyfteyn ;  1  /  hot  in  a  higher2  state 

It  may  not  be,  I  weyn,  /  for  this  well  I  wate, 

This  forty  dayes  has  rayn  beyn  ;  /  it  will  therfor  abate 

Full  lele. 

This  water  in  hast 
Eft  will  I  tast ; 
Now  am  I  agast, 

It  is  wanyd  a  grete  dele.  450 

Now  are  the  weders  cest  /  and  cateractes  knyt, 
Both  the  most  and  the  leest.  / 

VXOR.  Me  thynk,  bi  my  wit, 

The  son  shynes  in  the  eest ;  /  lo,  is  not  yond  it  ? 
We  shuld  haue  a  good  feest,  /  were  thise  floods  flyt, 

So  spytus. 

NOE.     We  have  been  here,  all  we, 
Thre  hundreth  8  dayes  and  fyfty. 
VXOR.     Yei,  now  wanys  the  see  ; 

Lord,  well  is  vs  !  459 

NOE.     The  thryd  tyme  will  I  prufe/what  depnes  we  bere. 
VXOR.     How  *  long  shall  thou  hufe  ?  /  Lay  in  thy  lyne  there. 
NOE.     I  may  towch  with  my  lufe  /  the  grownd  evyn  here. 
VXOR.     Then  begynnys  to  grufe  /  to  vs  mery  chere  ; 

Bot,  husband, 
What  grownd  may  this  be  ? 
NOE.     The  hyllys  of  Armonye. 
VXOR.     Now  blissid  be  he 

That  thus  for  vs  can  ordand  !  468 

i  MS.  xv.  s  MS.  ccc. 

«  E.  E.  T.  S.  higher.  *  E.  E.  T.  S.  Now;  corr.  by  Child. 


28  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

NOE.     I  see  the  toppys  of  hyllys  he,  /  many  at  a  syght ; 

No  thyng  to  let  me,  /  the  wedir  is  so  bright. 

VXOR.     Thise  ar  of  mercy  /  tokyns  full  right. 

NOE.     Dame,  thou1  counsell  me/  what  fowll  best  myght 

And  cowth 
With  flight  of  wyng 
Bryng,  without  taryying, 
Of  mercy  som  tokynyng 

Ayther  bi  north  or  southe  ;  477 

ffor  this  is  the  fyrst  day  /  of  the  tent  moyne. 
VXOR.     The  ravyn,  durst  I  lay,  /  will  come  agane  sone  ; 
As  fast  as  thou  may,  /  cast  hym  furth  ;  haue  done. 
He  may  happyn  to-day  /  com  agane  or  none 

With  grath. 

NOE.     I  will  cast  out  also 
Dowfyj  oone  or  two. 

Go  youre  way,  go,  [He  sends  out  the  birds,] 

God  send  you  som  wathe  !  486 

Now  ar  thise  fowles  flone  /  into  seyr  countre  ; 
Pray  we  fast  ichon,  /  kneland  on  our  kne, 
To  hym  that  is  alone/  worthiest  of  degre, 
That  he  wold  send  anone  /  oure  fowles  som  fee 

To  glad  vs. 

VXOR.     Thai  may  not  fayll  of  land, 
The  water  is  so  wanand. 
NOE.     Thank  we  God  all-weldand, 

That  lord  that  made  vs.  495 

It  is  a  wonder  thyng,  /  me  thynk  sothle, 
Thai  ar  so  long  taryyng,  /  the  fowles  that  we 
Cast  out  in  the  mornyng.  / 
VXOR.  Syr,  it  may  be 

Thai  tary  to  thay  bryng.  / 

NOE.  The  ravyn  is  a-hungrye 

All-way  ; 

l  E.  E.  T.  S.  thi ;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 


NOAH  S    FLOOD.  2Q 

He  is  wz't^out  any  reson  ; 
And  he  fynd  any  caryon, 
As  p^raventure  may  befon, 

He  will  not  away  ;  504 

The  dowfe  is  more  gentill,  —  /  her  trust  I  vntew,  — 
Like  vnto  the  turtill,  /  for  she  is  ay  trew. 
V^XOR.     Hence  hot  a  litill/  she  commys.     Lew,  lew  ! 
She  bryngjj  in  her  bill/som  novels  new. 

Behald  ! 

It  is  of  an  olif  tre 
A  branch,  thynkys  me. 
NOE.     It  is  soth,  perde, 

Right  so  is  it  cald.  513 

Doufe,  byrd  full  blist,  /  ffayre  myght  the  befall ! 
Thou  art  trew  for  to  trist  /  as  ston  in  the  wall ; 
Full  well  I  it  wist,  /  thou  wold  com  to  thi  hall. 
VXOR.     A  trew  tokyn  ist,  /  we  shall  be  sauyd  all ; 

ffor  why 

The  water,  syn  she  com, 
Of  depnes  plom 
Is  fallen  a  fathom 

And  more,  hardely.  522 

i  FILIUS.     Thise  flood/.?  ar  gone,  /  fader,  behold, 
ii  YiLrus.     Ther  is  left  right  none,  /  and  that  be  ye  bold, 
in  YILIUS.     As  still  as  a  stone  /  oure  ship  is  stold. 
NOE.     Apon  land  here  anone  /  that  we  were,  fayn  I  wold. 

My  child^r  dere, 
Sem,  Japhet  and  Cam, 
Vfiih  gle  and  w/t^  gam 
Com  go  we  all  sam, 

We  will  no  longer  abide  here.  531 

VXOR.     Here  haue  we  beyn,  /  Noy,  long  enogh, 
tray  and  with  teyn  /  and  dreed  mekill  wogh. 


3<D  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

NOE.     Behald,  on  this  greyn  /  nowd<?r  cart  ne  plogh 
Is  left,  as  I  weyn,  /  novrder  tre  then  bogh, 

Ne  other  thyng, 
Bot  all  is  away  ; 
Many  castels,  I  say, 
Crete  townes  of  aray, 

fflitt  has  this  flowyng.  540 

VXOR.     Thise  fioodz's  not  afright  /  all  this  warld  so  wide 
Has  mevid  wzt^  myght  /  on  se  and  bi  side. 
NOE.     To  dede  ar  thai  dyght,  /  prowdist  of  pryde, — 
Ever  ich  a  wyght  /  that  euer  was  spyde 

With  syn ; 
All  ar  thai  slayn, 
And  put  vnto  payn. 
VXOR.     ffrom  thens  agayn 

May  thai  neuer  wyn  ?  549 

NOE.     Wyn  ?     No,  i-wis,  /  bot  he  that  myght  hase 
Wold  myn  of  thare  mys  /  &  admytte  thaym  to  grace. 
As  he  in  bayll  is  blis,  /  I  pray  hym  in  this  space, 
In  heven  hye  w/'t^  his/  to  purvaye  vs  a  place, 

That  we, 

With  his  sant/j  in  sight 
And  his  angels  bright, 
May  com  to  his  light : 

Amen,  for  charite.  558 

Explicit processus  Noe,  sequitur  Abraham. 


HEGGE    PLAYS. 


Printed  from  MS.  Cott.  Vesp.  D.  viii.  I  have  expanded  curled  r  and  «  and 
crossed  h  and  //,  because  the  scribe  seems  to  have  used  them  with  a  definite  intention. 
In  the  footnotes,  H.  marks  the  readings  of  the  edition  of  the  old  Shakespeare 
Society  :  "  Ludus  Coventrise,  .  .  .  ed.  J.  O.  Halliwell.  London,  1841." 

I  have  chosen  to  call  the  plays  by  the  name  of  the  earliest  known  owner  of  the 
MS.,  for  I  see  no  reason  to  connect  them  with  Coventry,  and  "  so-called  Cov- 
entry Plays  "  is  a  clumsy  expression. 


[NOAH  AND  LAMECH.] 

NOE.     God  of  his  goodnesse  and  of  grace  grounde, 

By  whoys  gloryous  power  alk  thyng  is  wrought, 
In  whom  alk-vertu  plentevously l  is  ffounde, 

Wzt^owtyn  whos  2  wyl  may  be  ryth  nought, 
Thy  seruaunte-y  saue,  Lord,  fro  synful  sownde 

In  wyl,  in  werk,  in  dede  and  in  thouht ; 
Oun?  welth  in  woo  lete  nevyr  be  fownde  ; 

Vs  help,  Lord,  from  synne  thai  we  be  in  brought, 
Lord  God  fful  of  myght  ! 

Noe,  Ser^J,  my  name  is  knowe  ;  [Addressing  the  audience^ 

My  wyff  and  my  chyldere  hen?  on  rowe; 
To  God  we  pray  w/t^  hert  ful  lowe, 

To  plese  hym  in  his  syght.  13 

[n  me,  Noe,  the  secunde  age 

Indede  be-gynnyth  as  I  ^ow  say; 

1  MS.'plentevoufly. 

2  MS.  whof ;  probably  for  whofe. 


32  HEGGE    PLAYS. 

Afftyr  Adam,  wzt^outy«  langage, 

The  secunde  fadyr  am  I,  in  fay. 
But  men  of  levyng  be  so  owt-rage 

Bothe  be  nyght  and  eke  be  day, 
Thai,  lesse  Man  synne  Me  soner  swage, 

God  wyl  be  vengyd  on  vs  sum  way, 
In-dede. 

Ther  may  no  man  go  th^rowte, 

But  synne  regnyth  in  every  rowte  ; 

In  every  place  rownde  a-bowte 

Cursydnes  doth  sprynge  and  sprede.  26 

VXOR  NOE.     Alh?-myghty  God,  of  his  gret  grace, 

Enspyre  men  wzt^  hertely  wylL? 
For  to  sese  of  here  trespace  ; 

ffor  synfulk  levyng  oure  sowle  xal  spylk. 
Synne  offendyth  God  in  his  face 

And  a-grevyth  oure  Lorde  ffulte  ylle  ; 
It  causyth  to  man  ryght  grett  manace 

And  scrapyth  hym  out  of  lyvys  bylle, 
Thai  blyssyd  book. 

What  man  in  synne  doth  alk-wey  sclepp*, 

He  xal  gon  to  helle  ful  depp  ; 

Than  xal  he  nevyr  after  crepp^ 1 

Out  of  that  z  brennyng  brook.  39 

I  am  your  wyff,  your  childeryn  Mese  be  ; 

On-to  us  tweyn  it  doth  longe 
Hem  to  teche  in  all<?  degre 

Synne  to  for-sakyn  and  werkys  wronge. 
Therfore,  sere,8  for  loue  of  me, 

Enforme  hem  wele  evyr4  a-monge 
Synne  to  for-sake  and  vanyie, 

Andveriu.  to  ffolwe,  thai  thai  ffonge 
Oure  Lord  God  to  plese. 

l  MS.  cre^.  8  MS.  fer*. 

^H.the.  *MS.  ovyr. 


NOAH    AND    LAMECH.  33 

NOE.     I  warne  3ow,  childeryn,  on  and  alle, 
Drede  our<?  Lord  God  in  hevy[n]  hall*?, 
And  in  no  forfete  thai  we  ne  1  ffalk 

Our  Lord  for  to  dysplese.  52 

CHEM.S     A  !  dere  fEadyr,  God  for-bede 

Thai  we  xulde  do  in  ony  wyse 
Ony  werke  of  synful  dede 

Oun?  Lord  God  that  xulde  a-gryse. 

My  name  is  Chem,  your  son  of  pr/se  : 
I  xal  werke  aften?  your  rede  ; 

And  also,  wyff,  the  weylte  a  wyse 
Wykkyd  werkys  tha\.  tho\i  non  8  brede, 
Never  in  no  degre. 

Vxoff  SEEM.     Forsothe,4  sere,  be  Goddys  grace, 

I  xal  me  kepe  from  all?  trespace 

Tha\.  xulde  offende  Goddys  face,6 

Be  help  of  Me  Trynyte.  65 

CHAM.     I  am  Cham,  yottr  secunde  son,6 

And  purpose  me,  be  Goddys  myght, 
Nevyr  suche  a  dede  for  to  don 

That  xuld 7  agreve  God  in  syght. 
Vxoff  CHAM.     I  pray  to  God  me  grawnt  Mis  bone,8 

That  he  me  kepe  in  such^  a  plyght 
Mornynge,  hevenynge,  mydday  and  none, 

I  to  affendyn  hym  day  nor  nyght. 
Lord  God,  I  Me  pray, 

Bothe  wakynge  and  eke  in  slepe, 

Gracyous  God,  tho\\  me  keppe, 

Thai  I  nevyr  in  daunger  crepe 

On  dredfulk  domys-day.  78 

IAPHET.     laphet,  th\  iijd.e  sone,  is  my  name; 
I  pray  to  God,  wher-so  we  be, 

1  MS.  no.  6  H.  fface. 

2  H.  Shem.  6  R.  sone. 
8  H.  none.  7  H.  xulde. 

*  H.  fforsothe.  8  Curl  over  n  in  MS. 


34  HEGGE    PLAYS. 

Thai  he  vs  borwe  fro  synfulk  shame, 

And  in  vertuous1  levynge  evyr-more  kepe  me. 
VX[OR]  IAPHET.     I  am  jour  wyff  and  pray  Me  same, 

Thai  God  vs  saue  on  sonde  and  se, 
Vfiih  no  grevauns  thai  we  }\ym  grame  ; 

He  grawnt  vs  grace  synne  to  fle. 

Lord  God,  now  here  oure  bone  1 

NOE.     Gracyous  God,  thai  best  may, 

With  herty  wyl  to  the  we  pray,  — 

Thou  saue  us  sekyr  bothe  nyght  and  day, 

Synne  thai  we  noon  done.  91 

[God  speaks  in  heaven.] 

DEUS.     Ow  !  what  menyht  this  mys-levyng  man, 

Whiche  myn  hand  made  andbyldyd  in  blysse? 
Synne  so  sore  grevyht  me,  ^o,2  in  certayn, 

I  wol  be  vengyd  of  this  grett  mysse. 
Myn  aungel  den?,  tho\i  xalt  gan 

To  Noe  thai  my  servaunt  is ; 
A  shypp  to  make  on  hond  to  tan 

Tho\\  byd  hym  swyth  8  for  \\yrn  and  his, 
ffrom  drynchyng  hem  to  saue  ; 

ffor,  as  I  am  God  off  myght, 

I  xal  dystroye  this  wer[l]d  4  down^-ryght ; 

Here  synne  so  sore  grevyht  me  in  syght, 

Thei  xal  no  mercy  haue.  104 

ffecisse  hom.in.em  nunc penitet*>  me, 

Thai  I  made  man  sore  doth  me  rewe  ; 
Myn  handwerk  to  sle  sore  grevyth  me, 

But  thai  here  synne  here  deth  doth  brewe. 
Go  sey  to  Noe  as  I  bydde  the. : 

Hyw-self,  his  wyf,  his  chylderyn  6  trewe, 

1  MS.  vertuous.  4  MS.  has  werd  as  standard  form. 

2  H.  ja.  6  H.  poenitet. 
8  H.  swythe.  6  H.  childeryn. 


NOAH    AND    LAMECH.  35 

Tho  viii l  sovvlys  in  shyp  to  be  ; 

Thei  xul  not  drede  Me  flodys  fflowe, 

Tht  fflod  xal  harme  them  nowht ; 
Of  all*?  ffowlys  and  bestys  thei  take  a  peyre 
In  shipp2  to  saue,  bothe  ffoule  and  ftayere, 
ffrom  alk  dowtys  and  gret  dyspeyr*?, 

This  vengeauns  or  it  be  wrought.  117 

\The  angel  descends.} 

AXGEI.VS- (aJ iVje).    Noe  !  Noe  !     A  shypp  loke  M<?u  make, 

And  many  a  chaumbyr  thou  xalt  haue  M^rinne  ; 
Of  euery  kyndys  best  a  cowpyl  than  take 

W/t/z-in  the.  shypp-bord,8  here  lyvys  to  wynne  ; 

ffor  God  is  sore  grevyd  wz't^  man  for  his  synne, 
Thai  alle  this  wyde  werd  xalbe  dreynt  w/t/z  flood, 

Saff  tho\i  and  th\  wyff  xal  be  kept  from  Mis  gynne, 
And  also  th\  chylderyn  \vith  here  vertuys  good.  125 

NOE.     How  xuld  I  haue  wytt  a  shypp  for  to  make  ? 

I  am  of  ryght  grett  age,  v.  c.  ^ere  olde  ; 
It  is  not  for  me  Mis  werk  to  vndyr-take  ; 

ffor  ffeyntnesse  4  of  age  my  leggys  gyn  ffolde. 

ANGELUS.     This   dede   ffor  to  do  be  bothe  blythe  and 

bolde ; 
God  xal  enforme  Me  and  rewle  Me  ful  ryght ; 

Of  byrd  and  of  beste  take,  as  I  Me  tolde, 
A  peyr  in-to  Me  shypp,  and  God  xal  Me  qwyght.  133 

NOE.     I  am  ful  redy,  as  God  doth  me  bydde, 
A  shypp  for  to  make  be  myght  of  his  grace. 

[Exit  angelus^ 

Alas  !  Mat  ffor  synne  it  xal  so  be  betydde 

Thai  vengeauns  of  flood  xal  werke  Mis  manase. 
God  is  sore  grevyd  wzt/t  oure  grett  tresspas, 

That  wz't/z  wylde  watyr  Me  werd  xal  be  dreynt. 

1  H.  viij.  8  H.  omits  bord. 

2  H.  shypp.  4  MS.  ffeyynneffe  =  ffeythnnesse. 


36  HEGGE    PLAYS. 


141 

Hie  transit  Noe  cum  familia  sua  pro  naui;   quo  exeunte,  locum  interludij 
sub-intret  statim  Lameth  conductus  ab  adolescerite  et  di\cai\  2  : 

LAMETH.     Gret  mornyng  I  make  and  gret  cause  I  haue  ; 

Alas  !  now  I  se  not,  for  age  I  am  blynde  ; 
Blyndenes  doth*?  make  me  of  wytt  forto  rave  ; 

Whantynge  of  eye-syght  in  peyn  doth  me  bynde. 

Whyl  I  had  syht,8  myht  nevyr  man  fynde 
My  pere  of  archerye  in  alL?  th'\s  werd  a-boute, 

ffor  ^itt  schet  I  nevyr  at  hert,  [h]are,  nere  hynde, 
But  yf  thai  he  deyd  :  of  this  no  man  haue  doute.  149 

"  Lameth,  th&  good  archers  "  my  name  was  ovyr-alL?, 

ffor  thz.  best  archer*?  my«  name  dede  ev^r  sprede  ; 
Record  of  my  boy  here,  wytnes  th\s>  he  xal, 

What  merk  thai  were  set  me,  to  deth  it  xuld  blede. 

ADOLESCE^S.     It  is  trewe,  mayster,  thai  }e  seyn  indede  ; 
ffor  thai  tyme  }e  had  ^oure  bowe  hent  in  honde, 

If  thai  jour  prycke  had  be  half  a  myle  in  brede, 
3e  wolde  th&  pryk  han  hitte  if  ^e  ny  had  stonde.  157 

LAMETH.     I  xuld  nevyr  a  ffaylid,4  what  marke  thai  ever  were 
sett, 

Whyl  thai  I  myght  loke,  and  had  my  clere  syght ; 
And  3itt,  as  me  thynkyht,  no  man  xuld  shete  bett 

Than  I  xuld  do  now  if  my«  hand  were  sett  aryght. 

Aspye  som  marke,  boy,  —  my  bowe  xal  [I]  6  bende  wyght,  — 
And  sett  myn  hand  euyn  to  shete  at  some  best ! 

And  I  dar  ley  a  wagour  his  deth  for  to  dyght. 
Tht  marke  xal  I  hitt,  my  lyff  do  I  hest.  165 

1  MS.  shy^p.  *  MS.  affaylid,  H.  affayled. 

2  MS.  di  -  -  - ;  H.  dicens.  6  Supplied  by  H. 
8  MS.  syht  y'  myht ;  H.  syht,  ther  myht. 


NOAH    AND    LAMECH.  37 

[The  boy  sees  Cain.'] 

ADOLESCENS.   Vndyr  3011  grett  busche,  mayster,  a  best  do  I  se  ; 

Take  me  thin  hand  swyth  and  holde  it  ful  stylle  ; 
Now  is  thin  hand  evyn  as  euyr  it  may  be  ; 

Drawe  up  thin  takylk  jon  best  for  to  kylle. 

LAMETH.     My  bowe  xal  I  drawe  ryght  with  herty  wylle  ; 
This  brod  arwe  I  shete  thai  best  ffor  to  sayhV  ; 

Now,  haue  at  thai  busche  jon  best  for  to  spylle  ! 
A  sharppe  schote  I  shote,  theroi  I  xal  not  fayll?.  173 

CAYM.     Out !  out !  and  alas  !  my«  hert  is  on-sondyr  ; 

With  a  brod  arwe  I  am  ded  and  sclayn. 
I  dye  hen?  on  grounde  ;  my«  hert  is  all?  to  tundyr, 

With  this  brod  arwe  it  is  clovyn  on  twayn. 

LAMETH.    Herke,  boy,  cum  telle  me  the  trewth  in  certeyn  ; 
What  man  is  he  that,  this  cry  doth  thus  make  ? 

ADOLESCENS.  Caym  thou  hast  kyllyd,  I  telle  the  ful  pleyn*?; 
With  sharp  shetyng  his  deth  hath  he  take.  181 

LAMETH.     Haue  I  slayn  Cayme  ?     Alas  !  what  haue  I  done  ? 

Thou  stynkynge  lurdeyn,  what  hast  thou  wrought? 
Thou  art  the  [cause]  why  I  scle  hym  so  sone  ; 

Ther-iore  xal  I  kylh?  the.  here,  thou  skapyst  nowght. 

Hie  Latnetk  cum  area  suo l  verberat  adolescentem  ad  mortem,  dicente  adolescente : 

ADOLESCENS.     Out !   out !   I  deye  here,  my  deth  is  now 

sought. 
This  theffe  with  his  bowe  hath  broke  my  brayn. 

Ther  may  non  helpe  be,  my  dethe  is  me  brought ; 
Ded  here  I  synke  down,  as  man  thai  is  sclayn.  189 

LAMETH.     Alas  !  what  xal  I  do,  wrecch^,  wykkyd  on  woolde  ? 

God  wyl  be  vengyd  ful  sadly  on  me ; 
ffor  deth  of  Caym  I  xal  haue  vij  folde 


38  HEGGE    PLAYS. 

More  peyn  Man  he  had  ///at  AbelU?  dede  sle. 

These  to  mennys  deth  fulle  sore  bought  xal  be  ; 
Vpon  alle  my  blood  God  wylk  venge  Mis  dede. 

Where-fore,  sore  wepyng,  hens  wyl  I  fle, 
And  loke  where  I  may  best  my  hede  sone  heyde.  197 

Hie  recedat  Lameth  et  statitn  intrat  Noe  cum  naui  cantantesl 

NOE.     With  doolful  hert,  syenge  sad  and  sore, 

Grett  morny«g  I  make  for  this  dredful  flood  ; 
Of  man  and  of  best  is  dreynte  many  a  skore. 

Alii?  Mis  werd  2  to  spylk  ///ese  flodys  be  ful  wood  ; 

And  alle  is  for  synne  of  ma«nys  wylde  mood 
Thai  God  hath  ordeyned  Mis  dredfulte  vengeau«ce.8 

In  Mis  flood  spylt  is  many  a  mawnys  blood  ; 
ffor  synfulk  levynge  of  man  we  haue  gret  grevau«s.  205 

Alle  Mis  hundryd  ^ere  ryght  here  haue  I  wrought 

This  schypp  for  to  make,  as  God  dede  byd  me  ; 
Of  all?  maner  beste-r  a  copyll*  is  in  brought 

W/t^-in  my  shypp-borde  on  lyve  for  to  be. 

Ryght  longe  God  hath  soferyd,  amendy«g  to  se, 
Alle  Mis  hundyrd  4  }ere  God  hath  shewyd  grace. 

Alas  !  fro  gret  syn  man  wyl  not  fle. 
God  doth  Mis  vengeau«s  for  oure  gret  trespase.  213 


NOE.     Alas  !  for  gret  ruthe  of  Mis  gret  vengeau#ce  ! 

Gret  doyl  it  is  to  se  Mis  watyr  so  wyde. 
But  ^it  thankyd  be  God  of  Mis  ordenauwce, 

Thai  we  be  now  savyd  on  lyve  to  a-byde. 

SEEM,     ffor  grett  synne  of  lechery  alle  Mis  doth  betyde  ; 
Alas  !  thai  evyr  8  suchi?  synne  xulde  be  wrought. 

77/is  fflood  is  so  gret  on  every  a  syde,6 
Thai  alle  Mis  wyde  werd  to  care  is  now  brought.  221 

1  See  Notes.  *  H.  hundryd 

2  H.;  MS.  were.  6  MS.  Ovyr. 
8  MS.  vengeauce.                                    6  MS  asyde. 


NOAH    AND    LAMECH.  39 

SEEM.     Be-cawse  of  chylderyn  of  God  that  weryn  good 

Dede  forfete  ryght  sore  what  tyme  Mat  Mei  were 
Synfully  coupellyd l  to  Caymys  blood, 

Therfore  be  we  now  cast  in  ryght  grett  care. 

CHAM,     ffor  synful  levynge  Mis  werde  doth  for-fare. 
So  grevous  2  vengeau«s  myght  nevyr  man  se  ; 

Ovyr  all*  this  werd  wyde  ther  is  no  plot  bare. 
With  watyr  and  with  flood  God  vengyd  wylL?  be.  229 

Vxox  CHAM.     Rustynes  of  synne  is  cawse  of  Mese  wawys. 

Alas  !  in  this  fflood  ///is  werd  xal  be  lorn  ; 
ffor  offens  to  God,  brakyng  his  lawys, 

On  rokkys  ryght  sharp  is  many  a  man  torn. 

IAPHET.     So  grevous  fflodys  were  nevyr  ^ett  be-forn  ; 
Alas  !  that  lechery  Mis  vengeau«s  doth  gynne. 

It  were  well*?  bettyr  euer  to  be  vn-born 
Than  fforto  forfetyn  evyr-more  in  that  synne.  237 

Vxox  IAPHET.     Oure  Lord  God  I  thanke  of  his  gret  grace, 

That  he  doth  us  saue  from  Mis  dredful  payn*. 
Hym  for  to  wurchipe  in  euery  stede  and  place 

We  beth  gretly  bownde  with  myght  and  with  mayn. 

NOE.     XLti  days  and  nyghter  hath  lasted  this  rayn, 
And  xlti  days  this  grett  flood  begynnyth  to  slake. 

This  crowe  xal  I  sende  out  to  seke  sum  playn ; 
Good  tydyng^j  to  brynge  this  massage  I  make.  245 

Hie  emittat  coruum  et  parura  expectans  iterum  dicat : 

This  crowe  on  sum  careyn  is  fall*  for  to  ete  ; 

T^er-fore  a  newe  masangere  I  wyll*  fforth*  now  sende. 
ffly  fforth,  tho\\  fayr  dove,  ovyr  these  waterys  wete, 

Andaspye  afftere  sum  drye  lond  oure  mornyng  to  amend. 

Hie  euolet  columba;  yua  rede-unte*  cum  ramo  viridj  oliue,*  [dicat  Noe :  ] 

loye  now  may  we  make  of  myrth  Mat  that  were  frende  ; 
A  grett  olyve  bush*  Mis  dowe  doth  us  brynge  ; 

1  MS.  compellyd  ;  corr.  by  Kittredge.  3  MS.  redeuite. 

2  MS.  grpvoiis.  *  H.  viride  olivae. 


4O  HEGGE    PLAYS. 

ffor  ioye  of  Mis  tokyn  ryght  hertyly  we  tende. 
Ouiv?  Lord  God  to  worchep  a  songe  lete  vs  sy«ge.  253 


Hie  decantent  has  versus  : 


Mare  vidit,  et  fugit :  lordanis  conu&rsus  est  retrorsum. 
Non  nob'is,  Domine,  non  nob\&  ;  ^ed  nomint  tuo  da  gloriam. 


Et  sic  recedant  cunt  naui. 


BROME    PLAY. 


For  this  text  I  have  used  primarily  the  edition  by  Miss  Lucy  Toulmin  Smith, 
in  Anglia,  VII,  316-337,  and  secondarily  the  edition  (also  by  Miss  Smith)  in  "A 
Commonplace  Book  of  the  Fifteenth  Century  .  .  .  Printed  from  the  Original 
MS.  at  Brome  Hall,  Suffolk,  by  Lady  Caroline  Kerrison.  Edited  with  notes  by 
Lucy  Toulmin  Smith.  London  and  Norwich,  1886."  In  the  footnotes,  A.  indicates 
the  Anglia  edition  ;  B.,  The  Boke  of  Brome  ;  MS.  indicates  a  reading  found  in  the 
manuscript  but  relegated  to  the  footnotes  by  Miss  Smith.  H.  indicates  the  emen- 
dations of  Holthausen,  Anglia,  XIII,  361. 

As  to  the  MS.  Miss  Smith  says  :  "  The  crossed  //and  h  are  constantly  used,  but 
for  this  date  (1470  or  1480)  it  did  not  seem  necessary  to  treat  them  otherwise  than 
as  //  and  /<." 


[ABRAHAM  AND  ISAAC.] 

ABRAHAM.     Fader  of  heuyn  owwipotent, 

Vfiih  all  my  hart  to  the  I  call ; 
Thow  hast  ^offe  me  both  lond  and  rent, 
And  my  lyvelod  thow  hast  me  sent ; 

I  thanke  the  heyly  eu^r-mon?  of  all.  5 

Fyrst  off  the  erth  tho\\  madyst  Adam, 

And  Eue  also  to  be  hys  wyffe  ; 
All  other  creature 1  of  them  too  cam  ; 
And  now  thow  hast  grant  to  me,  Abraham, 

Her  in  thys  lond  to  lede  my  lyffe.  10 

In  my  age  thou  hast  grantyd  me  thys, 

That  thys  }owng  chyld  wz't^  me  shall  won* ; 
I  love  no-thyng  so  myche,  i-wysse, 
Excepe  2  thin.  owyn<?  selffe,  der  Fad<?r  of  blysse, 

As  Ysaac  her,  my  owyn*  swete  son£.  1 5 

1  B.  creatures.     Such  differences  bet-ween  the  two  prints  I  shall  not  record 
hereafter.  2  B.  Except. 


42  BROME    PLAY. 

I  haue  dyu^rse  chyldryn  moo, 

The  wych  I  love  not  halffe  so  wyll ; 
Thys  fayer  swet  chyld  he  schereys  me  soo 
In  evu?ry  place  wer  that  I  goo, 

That  noo  dessece  her  may  I  fell.  20 

And  therfor,1  Fadyr  of  heuyn,  I  the  prey 

For  hys  helth  and  also  for  hys  grace  ; 
Now,  Lord,  kepe  hym  both  nygth  and  day, 
That  neuer  dessese  nor  noo  fray 

Cume  to  my  chyld  in  noo  place.  25 

Now  cum  on,  Ysaac,  my  owyn^  swet  2  chyld  ; 

Goo  we  horn  and  take  owr  rest. 
ISAAC.     Abraham,  myn^  owyn^  fader  so  myld, 
To  folowe  ^ow  I  am  full  prest,8 

Bothe  erly  and  late. 
ABRAHAM.     Cume  on,  swete  chyld,  I  love  the  best 

Of  all  the  chyldryn  that  eu<?r  I  be-gat.  32 

\_Godspeaks  above^ 

DEUS.     Myn  angell,  fast  hey  the  thy  wey, 

And  on-to  medyll-erth  anon  tho\i  goo  ; 
Abrams  hart  now  wyll  I  asay, 

Wether  that  he  be  stedfast  or  noo.  36 

Sey  I  comwaw[n]dyd  4  hym  for  to  take 

Ysaac,  hys  ^owng  sonne,  thai  he  love  so  wyll, 

And  wzt&  hys  blood  sacryfyce  he  make, 

Yffe  ony  off  my  freynchepe  he  6  wyll  ffell.  40 

Schow  hym  the  wey  on-to  the  hylle 
Wer  that  hys  sacryffyce  schall  be. 

1  B.  ther  for.  2  B.  swete. 

«  MS.  glad  ;  cf.  Englische  Studien,  XIX,  150. 

*  A.  inserts  the  n,  but  it  is  regularly  omitted  in  this  MS. 

6  A.  B.  yf  before  he. 


ABRAHAM   AND    ISAAC.  43 

I  schall  a-say  now  hys  good  wyll, 

Whether  he  lovyth 1  better  hys  chyld  or  me. 
All  men  schall  take  exampyll  be  hym 

My  cowmawme«t? s  how  they  schall  kepe.  46 

\The  angel  begins  to  descend.} 

ABRAHAM.     Now,  Fader  of  heuyn,  that  formyd  all  thyng, 

My  preyenrj  I  make  to  the  a-jeyn, 
For  thys  day  my  tender  offryng 

Here  mvst  I  }eve  to  the,  certeyn. 
A  !  Lord  God,  all-myty  Kyng, 

Wat  man^r  best  woll  make  the  most  f ayn  ? 
Yff  I  had  ther-of  very  knoyng, 

Yt  schuld  be  don  wz't^  all  my  mayne 
Full  sone  anon^.2 

To  don  thy  plesyng  on  an  hyll, 

Verely  yt  ys  my  wyll, 

Dere  Fad<?r,  God  in  tr/nyte.  58 

THE  ANGELL.     Abraham,  Abraham,  wyll  thou  rest ! 

Owr  Lord  comandyth  the  for  to  take 
Ysaac,  thy  jowng  son<?  that  thow  lovyst  best, 

And  wz't^  hys  blod  sacryfyce  that  thow  make.  62 

In-to  the  lond  of  V[i]syon  8  thow  goo, 

And  offer  thy  chyld  on-to  thy  Lord  ; 
I  schall  the  lede  and  schow  all-soo. 

Vnto  Godd<?j  hest,  Abraham,  a-cord,  66 

And  folow  me  vp-on  thys  gren<?. 

ABRAHAM.     Wolle-com  to  me  be  my  Lord<?.r  sond, 

And  hys  hest  I  wyll  not  wzt^-stond  ; 

3yt  Ysaac,  my  $owng  sonne  in  lond, 
A  full  der*  chyld  to  me  haue  byn.  71 

l  A.  B.  lovyd. 

3  For  anone,  H.  suggests  by  me,  to  rhyme  -with  58. 

*Corr.  6yH. 


44  BROME    PLAY. 

I  had  lever,  yf  God  had  be  plesyd, 

For  to  a  for-bore  all  tht  good  that  I  haue, 
Than  Ysaac  my  son*  schuld  a  be  desessyd, 

So  God  in  heuyn  my  sowll  mot  saue  !  75 

I  lovyd  neu<?r  thyng  soo  mych  in  erde,1 

And  now  I  mvst  the  chyld  goo  kyll. 
A  !  Lord  God,  my  conseons  ys  stro«ly  steryd, 
And  }yt,  my  den?  Lord,  I  am  sore  2  a-ferd 

To  groche  ony  thyng  a-^ens  ^owr  8  wyll.  80 

I  love  my  chyld  as  my  lyffe, 

But  }yt  I  love  my  God  myche  more, 
For  thow  my  hart  woold  make  ony  stryffe, 
3yt  wyll  I  not  spare  for  chyld  nor  wyffe, 

But  don  after  my  Lord^J  lore.  85 

Thow  I  love  my  sonne  neuer  so  wyll, 

3yt  smyth*  of  hys  hed  sone  I  schall. 
A  !  Fad<?r  of  heuyn,  to  the  I  knell, 
An  hard  deth<?  my  son  schall  fell 

For  to  honor  the,  Lord,  wz'tA-all.  90 

THE  ANGELL.     Abraham  !     Abraham  !  thys  ys  wyll  seyd, 
And  all  thys  comame#t? s  loke  thai  thou  kepe  ;4 

But  in  thy  hart  be  no-thyng  dysmayd.8 

ABRAHAM.     Nay,  nay,  for-soth,  I  hold  me  wyll  plesyd6 

To  plesse  7  my  God  to  the  best  thai  I  haue.8  95 

For  thow  my  hart  be  heuely  sett 

To  see  the  blood  of  my  owyn  dere  son^, 
3yt  for  all  thys  I  wyll  not  lett,     [Exit  angel.] 
But  Ysaac,  my  son,  I  wyll  goo  fett, 

And  cum  asse  fast  as  ever  we  can.  100 

iMS.erthe.  6  H./OT  MS.  dysmasyd. 

2  A.  sere.  «  (ty.:  a-payd. 

«  B.  jowre.  1  MS.  pelsse. 

*  Qy. :  loke  thou  obay.  8  Qy. :  mzyf 


ABRAHAM    AND    ISAAC.  45 

Now,  Ysaac,  my  owyiv  son  dere, 

Wer  art  thow,  chyld  ?     Speke  to  me. 
YSAAC.     My  fayer  J  swet  fader,  I  am  here, 

And  make  my  pr^yrys  to  the.  Trenyte.  104 

ABRAHAM.     Rysse  vp,  my  chyld,  and  fast  cum  heder, 

My  gentyll  barn  tha\.  art  so  wysse, 
For  we  to,  chyld,  must  goo  to-geder 

And  on-to  my  Lord  make  sacryffyce.  108 

YSAAC.     I  am  full  redy,  my  fader,  loo  ! 

3evyn  at  30 wr  hand^j  I  stand  rygth  here, 
And  wat-so-eu^r  36  byd  me  doo, 

Yt  schall  be  don  vti\Ji  glad  cher, 

Full  wyll  and  fyne.  2 
ABRAH/I  M.     A  !  Ysaac,  my  owyn  son  soo  dew, 

God^r  blyssyng  I  ^yffe  the,  and  myn.  115 

Hold  thys  fagot  vp-on  th\  bake, 

And  her  my-selffe  fyer  schall  bryng. 
YSAAC.     Fader,  all  thys  her  wyll  I  packe  ; 

I  am  full  fayn  to  do  pwr  bedyng. 

ABRAH.4  M.     A  !  Lord  of  heuyn,  my  Inandes  I  wryng, 

Thys  chyldes  wordes  all  to-wond  my  harte.  121 

Now,  Ysaac  son,8  goo  we  owr  wey 

On-to  3on  mownte,  wii/t  all  owr  mayn. 
YSAAC.     Go  we,4  my  den?  fader,  as  fast  as  I  may ; 
To  folow  ^ow  I  am  full  fayn 

All-thow  I  be  slendyr. 
ABRAH/I  M.     A  !  Lord,  my  hart  brekyth  on  tweyn,6 

Thys  chyld^j  wordes,  they  be  so  tender.  128 

[  They  arrive  at  the  Mount."] 

A  !  Ysaac,  son,  a-non  ley  yt  down, 

No  lenger  vp-on  th\  backe  yt  hold,6 

1  B.  fader.  *  B.  Gowe. 

2  A.  syne.  8  MS.  tewyn  ;  corr.  by  A. 

8  B.  on.  6  MS.  here;  corr.  by  Kittredge  (cf.  v.  116). 


46  BROME   PLAY. 

For  I  mvst  make  redy  bon 

To  honowr  my  Lord  God  as  I  schuld.1  132 

YSAAC.     Loo,  my  den?  fad^r,  wer  yt  ys  ! 

To  cher  ^ow  all-wey  I  draw  me  ner  ; 
But,  fader,  I  m^rvell  sore  of  thys, 

Wy  thai  36  make  thys  heuy  chen? ;  136 

And  also,  fader,  eu<?r-more  dred  I  : 

Wer  ys  }owr  qweke  best  thai  36  schuld  kyll? 
Both  fyer  and  wood  we  haue  redy, 

But  queke  best  haue  we  non  on  this  hyll.  140 

A  qwyke  best,  I  wot  wyll,  must  be  ded 

^owr  sacryfyce  for  to  make.2 

ABRAHAM.     Dred  the  nowyth,  my  chyld,  I  the  red, 
Owr  Lord  wyll  send  me  on-to  thys  sted 
Summ  maner  a  best  for  to  take, 

Throw  hys  swet  sond. 
YSAAC.     3a>  fad^,  but  my  hart  begynnyth  to  quake 

To  se  thai  scharpe  sword  in  ^owr  hond.  148 

Wy  bere  36  ^owr  sword  drawyn  soo  ? 

Off  3owre  co«wnau«s  I  haue  mych  wonder. 
ABRAHAM.     A  !  Fader  of  heuyn,  so  8  I  am  woo  ! 

Thys  chyld  her  brekys  my  harte  on-sonder.4  152 

YSAAC.     Tell  me,  my  dere  fader,  or  that  36  ses, 

Ber  ^e  3owr  sword  draw[yn]  5  for  me  ? 
ABRAHAM.     A  !  Ysaac,  swet  son,  pes  !  pes  ! 

For  i-wys  thow  breke  my  harte  on  thre.  156 

YSAAC.     Now  trewly,  su»/-wat,6  fader,  36  thynke, 
That  36  morne  thus  more  and  more. 

1  A.  suggests  that  I  fere  for  as  I  schuld.     H.  prefers  as  dewli  were. 

2  Lines  141,  142  reversed  in  MS.;  corr.  by  A. 
8  MS.  os ;  corr.  by  A. 

*  A.  B.  on  too ;  H.'s  correction  on  basis  of  Chester  Play. 
6  Corr.  by  H.  6  B.  su»*-what. 


ABRAHAM    AND    ISAAC.  47 

ABRAHAM.     A  !  Lord  of  heuyn,  thy  grace  let  synke, 

For  my  hart  was  1  neuer  halffe  so  sore.  160 

YSAAC.     I  preye  jow,  fad<?r,  that  }e  wyll  let  me  thai  wyt, 

Wyther  schall  I  haue  ony  harme  or  noo. 
ABRAHAM.     I-wys,  swet  son,  I  may  not  tell  the  3yt, 

My  hart  ys  now  soo  full  of  woo.  164 

YSAAC.     Dere  fad<?r,  I  prey  }ow,  hyd  yt2  not  fro  me, 
But  sum  of  ^owr  thowt  that  }e  tell  me. 
ABRAHAM.     A  !  Ysaac,  Ysaac,  I  must  kyll  the  ! 

YSAAC.     Kyll  me,  fad^r?  alasse  !  wat  haue  I  don^?          168 

Yff  I  haue  trespassyd  a-^ens  }ow  owt, 

Wzt^  a  ^ard  ^e  may  make  me  full  myld  ; 
And  with  }owr  scharp  sword  kyll  me  nogth, 

For  i-wys,  f ad^r,  I  am  but  a  chyld.  1 72 

ABRAHAM.     I  am  full  sory,  son,  thy  blood  for  to  spyll, 

But  truly,  my  chyld,  I  may  not  chese. 

YSAAC.     Now  I  wold  to  God  my  moder  wen?  her  on  tMss  hyll! 
Sche  woold  knele  for  me  on  both  hyr  kneys 

To  save  my  lyffe. 

And  sythyn  that  my  mod<?r  ys  not  here, 
I  prey  }ow,  iader,  schonge  -yowr  chen?, 

And  kyll  me  not  with  jowyr  knyffe.  1 80 

ABRAHAM.     For-sothe,  son,  but  }yf  I  the  kyll, 

I  schuld  greve  God  rygth  sore,  I  drede  ; 
Yt  ys  hys  cowmawment  and  also  hys  wyll 

That  I  schuld  do  thys  same  dede.  184 

He  cowmawdyd  me,  son,  for  serteyn, 

To  make  my  sacryfyce  wz't^  thy  blood. 
YSAAC.     And  ys  yt  Godd<?.r  wyll  that  I  schuld  be  slayn? 

ABRAHAM.     3a»4  truly>  Ysaac,  my  son  soo  good, 

And  ther-for  my  hand^j  I  wryng.  189 

1  B.  wos.  »  A.  ys ;  B.  yis  =  tAis. 

*  A.  B.  hydygth.  *  B.  Za. 


48  BROME   PLAY. 

YSAAC.     Now,  fader,  a^ens  my  Lord<?j  wyll  * 
I  wyll  neuer  groche,  lowd  nor  styll  ; 

He  mygth  a  sent  me  a  better  desteny 
Yf  yt  had  a  be  hys  plecer.2  193 

ABRAHAM.     For-sothe,  son,  but  yf  Y8  ded  this  dede, 

Grevosly  dysplessyd  owr  Lord  wyll  be. 
YSAAC.  Nay,  nay,  fader,  God  for-bede 

That  euer  30  schuld  gr^ve  hym  for  me.  197 

3e  haue  other  chyldryn,  on  or  too, 

The  wyche  36  schuld  love  wyll  be  kynd. 
I  prey  jow,  iader,  make  36  no  woo, 
For,  be  I  onys  ded  and  fro  jow  goo, 

I  schall  be  sone  owt  of  jowr  mynd.  202 

Ther-for  doo  owr  Lordly  byddyng, 

And  wan  I  am  ded,  than  prey  for  me ; 
But,  good  fadi?r,  tell  36  my  mod^r  no-thyng, 
Say  4  thai  I  am  in  a-nother  cuwtre  dwellyng.8 

ABRAHAM.     A  !  Ysaac,  Ysaac,  blessyd  mot  thow  be  !       207 

My  hart  be-gynnyth  6  stronly  to  rysse, 

To  see  the  blood  off  thy  blyssyd  body. 
YSAAC.  Fadyr,  syn  yt  may  be  noo  other  wysse, 

Let  yt  passe  ouer  as  wyll  as  I.  211 

But,  iader,  or  I  goo  on-to  my  deth, 

I  prey  3ow  blysse  me  with  3owr  hand. 
ABRAHX  M.     Now,  Ysaac,  with  all  my  breth 
My  blyssyng  I  3eve  the.  vpon  thys  lond 

And  God<?j  also  ther-to,  i-wys. 
Ysaac,  Ysaac,  son^,  vp  thow  stond, 

Thy  fayer  swete  mowthe  that  I  may  kys.  218 

1  Qy. :  decre.  *  B.  Sey. 

2  Qy.:  wylL  6  MS.  dewllyng;  corr.  by  A. 

*  B.  I.  6  MS.  begynnyd ;  A.  suggests  begynnys 


ABRAHAM    AND    ISAAC.  49 

YSAAC.     Now  for-wyll,  my  owyn<?  fader  so  fyn, 

And  grete  wyll  my  mod<?r  in  erde.1 
But  I  prey  ^ow,  fader,  to  hyd  my  eyne, 

That  I  se  not  the.  stroke  of  ^owr  scharpe  swerd,3 

That  my  fleysse  schall  defyle. 

ABRAHAM.     Son*?,  thy  wordes  make  me  to  wepe8  full  sore  ; 
Now,  my  den?  son  Ysaac,  speke  no  more. 
YSAAC.     A  !  my  owyru?  den?  fader,  were-fon?  ? 

We  schall  speke  to-gedyr  her  but  a  wylle.  227 

And  sythyn  that  I  must  nedysse  be  ded, 

3yt,  my  den?  fader,  to  pw  I  prey, 
Smyths  but  fewe  4  stroke  at  my  hed, 

And  make  an  end  as  sone  as  je  may, 

And  tery  not  to  longe. 
ABRAHAM.     Thy  meke  word<?j,  chyld,  make  me  afray;6 

So,  "welawey!"  may  be  my  songe,  234 

Excepe  alo«ly  Codes  wyll. 

A  !  Ysaac,  my  owyn  swete  chyld, 
3yt  kysse  me  a-^en  vp-on  thys  hyll  ! 

In  all  thys  war[l]d  6  ys  no«  soo  myld.  238 

YSAAC.     Now  truly,  fader,  all  thys  teryyng 

Yt  doth  my  hart  but  harme  ; 
I  prey  }ow,  fader,  make  an  enddyng. 

ABRAHAM.     Cume  vp,  swet  son,  on-to  my  arme.  242 

I  must  bynd  thy  handes  7  too, 

All-thow  thow  be  neuer  soo  myld. 
YSAAC.     A  !  m^rcy,  fader  !  wy  schuld  ^e  do  soo  ? 

ABRAHAM.     That  thow  schuldyst  not  let,8  my  chyld.          246 

1  A.  B.  erthe.  6  A.  B.  afrayed. 

2  A.  B.  sword.  6  ward  is  the  regular  form  of  world  in  this  MS. 
8  B.  weep.  7  B.  hands. 

*  A.  B.  feve.  8  A.  B.  insert  [me]. 


5O  BROME    PLAY. 

YSAAC.     Nay,  i-wysse,  facU?r,  I  wyll  not  let  }ow  ; 

Do  on  for  me  30  wr  wyll, 
And  on  the  purpos  that  }e  haue  set  $ow 

For  Codes  love  kepe  yt  forthe  styll.  250 

I  am  full  sory  thys  day  to  dey, 

But  ^yt  I  kepe  not  my  God  to  greve  ; 
Do  on  jowr  lyst  for  me  hardly, 

My  fayer  swete  fad^r,  I  jeffe  $ow  leve.  254 

But,  fad^r,  I  prey  }ow  eu^r-more, 

Tell  }e  my  mod^r  no  dell  ; 
Yffe  sche  wost  yt,1  sche  wold  wepe  full  sore, 

For  i-wysse,  fader,  sche  lovyt  me  full  wylle, 

blyssyng  mot  sche  haue  !  2  259 


Now  for-wyll,  my  moder  so  swete, 

We  too  be  leke  no  mor  to  mete. 
ABRAHAM.     A  !  Ysaac,  Ysaac  !  son,  thou  makyst  me  to  gret, 

And  wz't^  thy  word^j  thow  dystempurst  me.  263 

YSAAC.     I-wysse,  swete  fader,  I  am  sory  to  greve  ^ow, 

I  cry  }ow  m<?rcy  of  that  I  haue  donne, 
And  of  all  trespasse  that  euer  I  ded  meve  }ow  ; 

Now,  dere  fad^r,  for-^yffe  me  thai  I  haue  donne. 

God  of  heuyn  be  with  me  !  268 

ABRAHAM.     A  !  dere  chyld,  lefe  of  thy  monys  ; 
In  all  thy  lyffe  thow  grevyd  me  neu^r  onys  ; 
Now  blyssyd  be  thow,  body  and  bonys, 

That  eu*?r  thow  wen?  bred  and  born  ! 
Thow  hast  be  to  me  chyld  full  good. 

But  i-wysse,  chyld,  thow  I  morne  neu<?r  so  fast, 

3yt  must  I  ned^j-  here  at  the  last 
In  thys  place  sched  all  thy  blood.  276 

1  A.  B.  wostyt. 

2  H.  suggests  haue  mot  sche,  to  rhyme  -with  263. 


ABRAHAM    AND    ISAAC.  5 1 

Ther-for,  my  dere  son,  hen?  schall  thou  lye. 

On-to  my  warke  I  must  me  stede, 
I-wysse  I  had  as  leve  my-selffe  to  dey  — 

Yff  God  wyll  be l  plecyd  wyth  my  dede  — 

And  myn  owyn  body  for  to  offer. 
YSAAC.     A  !  mercy,  tader,  morne  ^e  no  more, 
3owr  wepyng  make  2  my  hart  sore, 

As  my  owyn  deth  that  I  schall  suffer.  284 

3owr  kerche,  fad^r,  a-bowt  my  eyn  }e  wynd  ! 

ABRAHAM.     So  I  schall,  my  swettest  chyld  in  erde.8 
YSAAC.     Now  }yt,  good  fad<?r,  haue  thys  in  mynd, 

And  smyth  me  not  oftyn  w/t^  yowr  scharp  swerd,4 
But  hastely  that  yt  be  sped. 

Here  Abraham  leyd a  cloth  on  Ysaacesface,  thus  seyyng: 

ABRAHAM.     Now  fore-wyll,  my  chyld,  so  full  of  grace. 
YSAAC.     A  !  iader,  iader,  torne  downgward  my  face, 

For  of  ^owr  scharpe  sword  I  am  eu^r  a-dred.  292 

ABRAHAM.     To  don  thys  dede  I  am  full  sory, 

But,  Lord,  thyn  hest  I  wyll  not  w/t^-stond. 
YSAAC.     A  !  Fader  of  heuyn,  to  the  I  crye, 

Lord,  reseyve  me  in-to  5  thy  hand.  296 

ABRAHAM.     Loo  !  now  ys  the  tyme  cum  certeyn 

That  my  sword  in  hys  necke  schall  bite.6 
A  !  Lord,  my  hart  reysyth  ther-ageyn,7 

I  may  not  fynd  yt 8  in  my  harte  to  smygth,  — 
My  hart  wyll  not  now  ther-too. 

3yt  fayn  I  woold  warke  my  Lord^j  wyll ; 

But  thys  ^owng  innosent  lygth  so  styll, 

I  may  not  fynd  yt 8  in  my  hart  hym  to  kyll. 

0  !  Fader  of  heuyn  !  what  schall  I  doo  ?  305 

1  B.  omits  be.  6  A,  omits  to. 

2  H.  maketh.  6  MS.  synke ;  corr.  by  H. 
8  A.  B.  erthe.  1  B.  the  ageyn. 

*  A.  B.  sword.  8  A.  B.  fyndygth. 


52  BROME    PLAY. 

YSAAC.     A  !  mercy,  fader,  wy  tery  }e  so, 

And  let  me  ley  thus  longe  on  this  heth*? 
Now  I  wold  to  God  th&  stroke  wen?  doo  ! 
Fader,  I  prey  }ow  hartely,  schorte  me  of  my  woo, 

And  let  me  not  loke  thus  aiier  my  degth.  310 

ABRAHAM.     Now,  hart,  wy  wolddyst  not  thow  breke  on  thre? 

3yt  schall  M[0]u  not  make  me  to  my  God  on-myld. 
I  wyll  no  lenger  let  for  the, 
For  that  my  God  a-grevyd  wold  be  ; 

Now  hoold  tha  stroke,  my  owyn  den?  chyld.  315 

Her  A  bro.ka.rn  draw  1  Ays  stroke  and  th^  *  angell  take  the  sword  in  hys  hand 
soddenly. 

THE  ANGELL.     I  am  an  angell,  thow  mayist  se  blythe, 

That  fro  heuyn  to  the  ys  senth. 
Owr  Lord  thanke  the  an  C  sythe 

For  the  kepyng  of  hys  cowmawment  319 

He  knowyt  th\  wyll  and  also  thy  harte, 

That  thow  dredyst  hym  above  all  thyng  ; 
And  sum  of  thy  hevynes  for  to  departe 

A  fayr  ram  yynder  I  gan  brynge  ;  323 

He  standyth  teyed,  loo  !  a-mong  tht  bren?j. 

Now,  Abraham,  a-mend  thy  mood, 
For  Ysaac,  thy  pwng  son  thai  her  ys, 

Thys  day  schall  not  sched  hys  blood  ;  327 

Goo,  make  thy  sacryfece  viiih  }on  8  rame. 
Now  for-wyll,  blyssyd  Abraham, 

For  on-to  heuyn  I  goo  now  horn  ; 
The  way  ys  full  gayn. 

Take  vp  thy  son  soo  free.  [.Ejraf.]  332 


ABRAHAM.     A  !  Lord,  I  thanke  the  of  thy  gret  grace, 
Now  am  I  yeyed  4  on  dyuers  wysse  ; 

1  B.  drew.  *  B.  the.  8  A.  jou.  *  Qy.  .-  for  ethed  =  eased. 


ABRAHAM   AND    ISAAC.  53 

A-rysse  vp,  Ysaac,  my  den?  su«ne,  a-rysse  ; 

A-rysse  vp,  swete  chyld,  and  cum  to  me.  336 

YSAAC.     A  !  mercy,  fader,  wy  smygth  ^e  nowt  ?  l 

A  !  smygth  on,  iader,  onys  wz'U  }owr  knyffe. 
ABRAHAM.     Pesse,  my  swet  son,2  and  take  no  thowt,8 

For  owr  Lord  of  heuyn  hath  grant  th\  lyffe 

Be  hys  angell  now,  341 

That  thovi  schalt  not  dey  this  day,4  su«ne,  truly. 
YSAAC.     A  !  fad^r,  full  glad  than  wer  I, 
I-wys,  fader,  I  sey,  i-wys, 
Yf  thys  tale  wer  trew. 

ABRAHAM.     An  hundyrd  tymys,  my  son  fayer  of  hew, 
For  joy  th\  mowth  6  now  wyll  I  kys.  347 

YSAAC.     A  !  my  dere  fader,  Abraham, 

Wyll  not  God  be  wroth  that  we  do  thus  ? 
ABRAHAM.     Noo,  noo  !  har[de]ly,  my  swyt  son, 

For  ^yn  same  rame  he  hath  vs  sent 6 

Hether  down  to  vs.7  352 

3yn  best  schall  dey  hen?  in  th\  sted, 

In  the  wor/^schup  8  of  owr  Lord  a-lon  ; 
Goo,  fet  hym  hethyr,  my  chyld,  in-ded. 
YSAAC.     Fad^r,  I  wyll  goo  hent  hym  be  the  hed, 

And  bryng  30  n  best  wz't^  me  a-non.  357 

{Isaac  catches  the  ram.] 

A  !  scheppe,  scheppe,  blyssyd  9  mot  thoM  be, 
That  euer  thow  wen?  sent  down  heder  ! 
Thow  schall  thys  day  dey  for  me, 
In  the  worchup  of  the  holy  Trynyte. 

1  MS.  not  ?yt ;  corr.  by  H. 

2  A.  B.  sir.  <  B.  dey. 

8  H. proposes  dowt.  6  B.  mowt. 

6  H. proposes :  For  he  hath  sent  us  }yn  same  rame. 

7  Qy. :  Noo,  noo,  swyt  son,  for  3yn  same  rame 

He  hath  sent  hether  down  to  vs. 

8  MS.  worpschup;  corr.  by  A.          9  B.  blessed. 


54  BROME    PLAY. 

Now  cum  fast  and  goo  we  to-ged^r 

To  my  Fader  of  heuyn.1 
Thow  thoM.  be  neuer  so  jentyll  and  good, 
3yt  had  I  \euer  thow  schedyst  tK\  blood, 

I-wysse,  scheppe,  than  I.  366 

Loo  !  iader,  I  haue  browt  her*?  full  smerte 

Thys  jentyll  scheppe,2  and  hym  to  }ow  I  ^yffe  ; 
But,  Lord  God,  I  thanke  the.  3  wz'tA  all  my  hart, 
For  I  am  glad  that  I  schall  leve 

And  kys  onys  my  dere  moder. 
ABRAHAM.     Now  be  rygth  myry,  my  swete  chyld, 
For  thys  qwyke  best  thai  ys  so  myld 

Hen?  I  schall  present  be-fore  all  other.  374 

YsAAC;     And  I  wyll  fast  be-gynne  to  blowe  ; 
Thys  fyer  schall  brene  a  full  good  spyd. 
But,  fader,  wyll  I  stowppe  down*?  lowe, 
3e  wyll  not  kyll  me  wzt^  ^owr  sword,  I  trowe  ? 

ABRAHAM.     Noo,  har[de]ly,  swet  son,  haue  no  dred, 

My  mornyng  ys  past. 
YSAAC.     3a  '  but  I  woold  thai  sword  wer  in  a  gled,4 

For,  i-wys,  fader,  yt  make  me  full  yll  a-gast.  382 

/fere  A  brah&m  mad  kys  offryng,  knelyng  and  seyyng  thus : 

ABRAHAM.     Now,  Lord  God  of  heuen  in  Trynyte, 

All-myty  God  omnipotent, 
My  offeryng  I  make  in  the  worchope  of  the, 

And  w/'t^  thys  qweke  best  I  the  present. 

Lord,  reseyve  thow  myn  intent, 

As  [thow]  art  God  and  grownd  of  owr  grace.  388 

1  Qy. :  To  my  fad^r  in  hy. 

2  As  two  lines  in  A.  B.,  the  first  ending  here.    From  here  my  numbering 
is  one  line  behind  Miss  Smith's. 

3  B.  ye. 

4  A.  B.  glad  =  gled. 


ABRAHAM    AND    ISAAC.  55 


\God  speaks  from  above '.] 

DEUS.     Abraham,  Abraham,  wyll  mot  thow  sped, 

And  Ysaac,  th\  jowng  son  the  by  ! 
Trvly,  Abraham,  for  thys  dede 
I  schall  mvltyplye  jowrej  bothers  sede 
As  thyke  as  sterrw  be  in  the  skye, 

Bothe  more  and  lesse  ; 
And  as  thyke  as  gravell  in  the  see, 
So  thyke  mvltyplyed  }owr  sede  schall  be ; 

Thys  grant  I  }ow  for  ^owr  goodnesse.  397 

Off  }ow  schall  cume  frowte  gret  [won], 

And  euer  be  in  blysse  w/t^-owt  }ynd. 
For  $e  drede  me  as  God  a-lon 
And  kepe  my  cowmawment^J  eu^ryschon, 

My  blyssyng  I  ^effe,  wer-so-eu^r  ^e  wend.1  402 

ABRAHAM.     Loo  !  Ysaac,  my  son,  how  thynke  $e 

Be  thys  warke  that  we  haue  wrogth  ? 
Full  glad  and  blythe  we  may  be, 

A^ens  /^e  wyll  of  God  that  we  grucched  nott, 

Vp-on  thys  fayer  hetth. 

YSAAC.     A  !  fader,  I  thanke  owr  Lord  euery  dell, 
That  my  wyt  servyd  me  so  wyll 

For  to  drede  God  more  than  my  detth.  410 

ABRAHAM.     Why!  dere- wordy  son,  wer  thow  a-dred? 

Hardely,  chyld,  tell  me  thy  lore. 
YSAAC.     3a  •  be  my  feyth,  fad^r,  now  haue  2  I  red, 
I  wos  neuer  soo  afrayd  be-fore 
As  I  haue  byn  at  }yn  hyll. 
But,  be  my  feyth,  fader,  I  swere 
I  wyll  neu^r-more  cume  there 

But  yt  be  a-^ens  my  wyll.  418 

l  A.  B.  goo ;  corr.  by  H.        2  A.  B.  hath. 


56  BROME    PLAY. 


ABRAHAM.     3a  •  CVLfn  on  wzt^  me>  my  owyn  swet  son«, 
And  horn-ward  fast  now  let  vs  goon. 

YSAAC.     Be  my  feyth,  fad^r,  ther-to  I  grant, 
I  had  neu^r  so  good  wyll  to  gon  horn, 

And  to  speke  wz't^  my  der<?  moder. 
ABRAHAM.     A  !  Lord  of  heuyn,  I  thanke  the, 
For  now  may  I  led  horn  wz'tA  me 
Ysaac,  my  ^ownge  sonw  so  f  re,  — 

The  gentyllest  chyld  a-bove  all  other,! 

Thys  may  I  wyll  a-voee.  428 

Now  goo  we  forthe,  my  blyssyd  son«. 
YSAAC.     I  grant,  fader,  and  let  vs  gon, 
For  be  my  trowthe  wer  I  at  home, 
I  wold  neiu?r  gon  owt  vnder  that  forme. 
I  pray  God  ^effe  vs  grace  eu<?r-mo, 
And  all  thow  that  we  be  holdyng  to.  434 

[Exeunt.     Enter  Doctor  I\ 

DOCTOR.     Lo  !  sov^reyns  and  sorys,  now  haue  we  schowyd 

Thys  solom  story  2  to  grete  and  smale  ; 
It  ys  good  lernyng  to  lernd  and  lewyd 
And  the.  wysest  of  vs  all, 

Wyth-owtyn  ony  berryng. 
For  thys  story  schoyt  }owe  [her] 
How  we  schuld  kepe  to  owr  po[we]re 

Godd*y  co/«mawme«ts  w/t^-owt  grochyng.  442 

Trowe  36,  sores,  and  .  God  sent  an  angell 

And  cowmawndyd  ^ow  pwr  chyld  to  slayn,8 
Be  }owr  trowthe  ys  ther  ony  of  jow 

That  eyther  wold  groche  or  stryve  ther-ageyn  ? 
How  thyngke  }e  now,  sorys,  ther-by  ? 

1  MS.  erthe  ;  corr.  by  A. 

3  A.  B.  hove  hath  schowyd  after  story  ;  corr.  by  H. 

8  A.  B.  to  smygth  of  ^owr  chyldes  hed  ;  corr  by  H. 


ABRAHAM    AND    ISAAC.  5? 

I  trow  ther  be  iij  or  iiij  or  moo. 
And  thys  women  that  wepe  so  sorowfully 
Whan  that  hyr  chyldryn  dey  them  froo, 

As  nater  woll 1  and  kynd,  — 
Yt  ys  but  folly,  I  may  well  awooe, 
To  groche  a-^ens  God  or  to  grevo.  pw, 
For  }e  schall  neuer  se  hym  myschevyd,  wyll  I  know, 

Be  lond  nor  watyr,  haue  thys  in  mynd  ;  455 

And  groche  not  a-^ens  owr  Lord  God 

In  welth  or  woo,  wether  that  he  jow  send, 
Thow  36  be  neuer  so  hard  be-stad  ; 

For  when  he  wyll,  he  may  yt  a-mend, 
Hys  comawment^J  trevly  2  yf  ^e  kepe  wz't^  goo[d]  8  hart, 

As  thys  story  hath  now  schowyd  }ow  be-for[n]^,4 
And  feytheffully  serve  hym  qwyll  ^e  be  qvart, 

That  36  may  piece  God  bothe  euyn  and  morne. 

Now  Jesu.  that  weryt  the  crown  of  thorne, 

Bryng  vs  all  to  heuyn  blysse  !  465 

Finis. 

1  woll  twice  in  MS.  3  So  A.  B. 

2  B.  treuly.  *  Corr.  by  H. 


TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 


For  information  as  to  the  text,  see  above,  p.  13.    The  fragmentary  condition  o£ 
the  first  piece,  Isaac,  is  due  to  the  loss  of  two  leaves  of  the  MS.  at  this  place. 


I. 

[ISAAC.] 

[ISAAC.]     Com  nere,  son,  and  kys  me, 

That  I  may  feyle  the  smell  of  the. 

The  smell  of  my  son  is  lyke 

To  a  feld  with  flouris,  or  hony  bike. 

Where  art  thou,  Esaw,  my  son  ? 

IACOB.     Here,  fad^r,  and  a.skzs  youre  benyson. 

ISAAC.     The  blyssyng  my  fad^r  gaf  to  me, 

God  of  heuen  &  I  gif  the  : 

God  gif  the  plente  grete 

Of  wyne,  of  oyll,  and  of  whete  ;  io 

And  graunt  thi  childre  all 

To  worship  the,  both  grete  and  small  ; 

Who-so  the  blyssys,  blyssed  be  he  ; 

Who-so  the  waris,  wared  be  he. 

Now  has  thou  my  grete  blyssyng, 

Loue  the  shall  all  thyne  ofspryng  ; 

Go  now  whed^r  thou  has  to  go. 

IACOB.     Graunt  mm:y,  s/>,  I  will  do  so. 

Recedet  locob.     [Esau  advances^ 

ESAW.     Haue  ete,  fad<?r,  of  myn  huntyng, 

And  gif  me  sythen  your  blyssyng.  20 


ISAAC.  59 

ISAAC.     Who  is  that? 

ESAW.  I,  youre  son, 

Esaw,  bryngz'j  you  venyson, 

ISAAC.     Who  was  that  was  right  now  here 

And  broght  me  bruet  of  a  dere  ? 

I  ete  well,  and  blyssyd  hym  ; 

And  he  is  blyssyd,  ich  a  lym. 

ESAW.     Alas  !  I  may  grete  and  sob. 

ISAAC.     Thou  art  begylyd  thrugh  lacob 

That  is  thyne  awne  german  brother. 

ESAW.     Haue  ye  kepyd  me  none  other  30 

Blyssyng  then  ye  set  hym  one  ? 

ISAAC.     Sich  another  haue  I  none  ; 

Bot  God  gif  the  to  thyn  handband 

The  dew  of  heuen  &  frute  of  land  ; 

Other  then  this  can  I  not  say. 

ESAW.     Now,  alas  and  walo-way  ! 

May  I  with  that  tratoure  mete, 

My  faders  dayes  shall  com  wz't^  grete, 

And  my  moders  also  ; 

May  I  hym  mete,  I  shall  hym  slo.  40 

[Esau  retires.    Rebecca  advances  I\ 

REBECCA.     Isaac,  it  were  my  deth 

If  lacob  weddeth  in  kynd  of  Heth  ; 

I  will  send  hym  to  Aran, 

There  my  brothere  dwellys,  Laban  ; 

And  there  may  he  s^rue  in  peasse 

Till  his  brothers 1  wrath  will  seasse. 

Why  shuld  I  apon  a  day 

Loyse  both  my  sonnes  ?  better  nay. 

ISAAC.     Thou  says  soth,  wife  ;  call  hym  hed^r, 

And  let  vs  tell  hym  where  &  whed^r  50 

That  he  may  fle  Esaw, 

That  vs  both  hetz>  bale  to  brew. 

i  E.  E.  T.  S.  brother's. 


6O  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

REBECCA.     lacob,  son  !  thi  fad<?r  &  I 
Wold  speke  w/'tA  the  ;  com,  stand  vs  by  ! 

\_Jacob  advances^  . 

Out  of  contry  must  thou  fle, 

That  Esaw  slo  not  the. 

IACOB.     Whederward  shuld  I  go,  dame? 

REBECCA.     To  Mesopotameam  ; 

To  my  brothere,  and  thyn  erne, 

That  dwellys  besyde  Jordan  streme  ;  60 

And  ther  may  thou  with  hym  won, 

To  Esaw,  myne  other  son, 

fforget,  and  all  his  wrath  be  dede. 

IACOB.     I  will  go,  fad^r,  at  youre  rede. 

ISAAC.     Yei,  son,  do  as  thi  mod^r  says  ; 

Com  kys  vs  both,  &  weynd  thi  ways. 

Et  osculat\u. 

IACOB.     Haue  good  day,  szr  and  dame ! 

ISAAC.     God  sheld  the,  son,  from  syn  and  shame ! 

REBECCA.     And  gif  the  grace  good  man  to  be, 

And  send  me  glad  tythingw  to *  the.  70 

Explicit  Isaac. 

II. 

[JACOB.]3 

IACOB.     Help  me,  Lord,  Adonay, 

And  hald  me  in  the  right  way 

To  Mesopotameam  ! 

ffor  I  cam  neu^r  or  now  where  8  I  am  ; 

I  cam  neu^r  here  in  this  centre. 

Lord  of  heuen,  thou  help  me  ! 

ffor  I  haue  maide  me,  in  this  strete, 

Sore  bonys  &  warkand  feete. 

i  Qy.:  fro. 

3  E.  E.  T.  S.  Sequit«r  lacob. 

8  Qy.:  change  now  where  to  where  now/or  metre. 


JACOB.  6 1 

The  son  is  downe,  what  is  best  ? 

Her  purpose  I  all  nyght  to  rest ;  10 

Vnder  my  hede  this  ston  shal  ly  ; 

A  nyghtis  rest  take  will  I. 

[He  sleeps.    God  appears  and  speaks.] 

DEUS.     lacob,  lacob,  thi  God  I  am, 

Of  thi  forfad<?r  Abraham, 

And  of  thi  fader  Isaac. 

it  shall  the  blys  for  thare  sake. 

This  land  that  thou  slepys  in 

I  shall  the  gif,  and  thi  kyn  ; 

I  shall  thi  seede  multyply, 

As  thyk  as  powder  on  erth  may  ly  ;  20 

The  kynd  of  the  shall  sprede  wide, 

ffrom  eest  to  west  on  eu^ry  syde, 

ffrom  the  south  vnto  the  north, — 

All  that  I  say,  I  shall  forth,  — 

And  all  the  folkz'j  of  thyne  ofspryng, 

Shal  be  blyssyd  of  thy  blyssyng. 

lacob,  haue  thou  no  kyns  drede  ! 

I  shall  the  clethe,  I  shall  the  fede  ; 

Whartfull  shall  I  make  thi  gate  ; 

I  shal  the  help  erly  and  late  ;  30 

And  all  in  qwart  shall  I  bryng  the 

Home  agane  to  thi  countre. 

I  shall  not  fay  11,  be  thou  bold, 

Bot  I  shall  do  as  I  haue  told. 

Hie  vigilet. 

IACOB.     A  !  Lord,  what  may  this  mene  ? 

What  haue  I  herd  Jin  slepe,  and  sene? 

That  God  leynyd  hym  to  a  stegh 

And  spake  to  me,  it  is  no  leghe  ! 

And  now  is  here  none  othere  gate 

Bot  God/j  howse  and  heuens  yate.  40 


02  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

Lord,  how  dredfull  is  this  stede ! 

Ther  I  layde  downe  my  hede, 

In  Godz'-r  lovyng  I  rayse  this  stone, 

And  oyll  will  I  putt  theron. 

Lord  of  heuen,  that  all  wote, 

Here  to  the  I  make  a  hote : 

If  thou  gif  me  mete  and  foode, 

And  close  to  body,  as  I  behoued, 

And  bryng  me  home  to  kyth  and  kyn 

By  the  way  that  I  walk  in,  50 

Without  skathe  and  in  quarte, 

I  promyse  to  the  vittA  stedfast  hart, 

As  thou  art  Lord  and  God  myne 

And  I  lacob,  thi  trew  hyne, 

This  stone  I  rayse  in  sygne  to-day 

Shall  I  hold  holy  kyrk  for  ay; 

And  of  all  that  newes  me 

Rightwys  tend  shall  I  gif  the. 

[A  n  interval  of  about  twenty  years."] 
Hie  egredtatvx  Jacob  de  A  ran  in  terram  natinitafi.s  sue, 

[lACOB.]     A  !  my  Fader,  God  of  heuen, 

That  saide  to  me  thrugh  thi  Steven,  60 

When  I  in  Aran  was  dwelland, 

That  I  shuld  turne  agane  to  land 

Ther  I  was  both  fed  and  born*?, 

Warnyd  thou  me,  Lord,  befonu?, 

As  I  went  toward  Aran 

With  my  staff,  and  passyd  lordan  ; 

And  now  I  com  agane  to  kyth 

With  two  ostes  of  men  me  with. 

Thou  hete  me,  Lord,1  to  do  well  wzt&  me, 

To  multyplye  my  seede  as  sand  of  see  ;  70 

Thou  saue  me,  Lord,  thrugh  vertew, 

ffrom  veniance  of  Esaw, 

1  Qy. :  omit  Lord. 


JACOB.  63 

That  he  slo  not,  for  old  greme, 

These  moders  w/t^  thare  barne-teme. 

RACHELL.     Oure  anguysh,  sir,  is  many-fold, 

Syn  that  oure  messyngere  vs  told 

That  Esaw  wold  you  slo, 

With  foure  hundreth  men  and  mo. 

IACOB.     ffor  soth,  Rachell,  I  haue  hym  sent 

Of  many  beest/.y  sere  present.  80 

May  tyde  he  will  oure  giftz>  take, 

And  right  so  shall  his  wrath  slake. 

Where  ar  oure  thyngz>,  ar  thay  past  lordan? 

LYA.     Go  and  look,  sir,  as  ye  can. 


Hie  scruteiur  sup&clectile,  et  lucteha  aagetus  cum  eo. 

DEUS.     The  day  spryngzV  ;  now  lett  me  go. 

IACOB.     Nay,  nay,  I  will  not  so 

Bot  thou  blys  me  or  thou  gang  ; 

If  I  may,  I  shall  hold  the  lang. 

DEUS.     In  tokynyng  that  thou  spekw  w/t^  me 

I  shall  toche  now  thi  thee,  90 

That  halt  shall  thou  eu/?miore, 

Bot  thou  shall  fele  no  sore. 

What  is  thy  name,  thou  me  tell? 

IACOB.     lacob. 

DEUS.  Nay,  bot  Israeli. 

Syn  thou  to  me  sich  strengthe  may  kythe, 

To  men  of  erth  thou  must  be  stythe. 

IACOB.     What  is  thy  name  ? 

DEUS.  Whi  askz'j  thou  it  ? 

'  Wond^rfull,'  if  thou  wil  wyt. 

IACOB.     A,  blys  me,  Lord  ! 

DEUS.  I  shall  the  blys, 

And  be  to  the  full  pr^pyce,  loo 

And  gyf  the  my  blyssyng  for  ay  ; 

As  lord  and  he  that  all  may, 

I  shall1  grayth  thi  gate, 

1  Qy.  •  insert  goodly. 


64  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

And  full  well  ordeyn  thi  state. 

When  thou  has  drede,  thynk  on  me, 

And  thou  shal  full  well  saynyd  be. 

And  look  thou  trow  well  my  sayes  ; 

And  farewell  now,  the  day  dayes. 

JACOB.     Now  haue  I  a  new  name,  Israeli ; 

This  place  shall  [hight]  1  Fanuell,  no 

ffor  I  haue  seyn  in  this  place 

God  of  heuen  face  to  face. 

RACHELL.     lacob,  lo  !  we  haue  tythand 

That  Esaw  is  here  at  hand. 

Hie  diuidit  tvxmas  in  tres  fartes. 

IACOB.     Rachell,  stand  thou  in  the  last  eschele, 

ffor  I  wold  thou  were  sauyd  wele  ; 

Call  loseph  and  Beniamin, 

And  let  theym  not  fro  the  twyn. 

If  it  be  so  that  Esaw 

Vs  before  all  to-hew,  120 

Ye  that  ar  here  the  last 

Ye  may  be  sauyd  if  ye  fle  fast. 

Et  vadcit  lacob  osculand \o\  Esaw;  venit  lacob,  flecfA  genita  exorando  Deum ;  et 
leuando,  occmrit  illi  Esaw  in  amplexibus. 

IACOB.     I  pray  the,  Lord,  as  thou  me  het, 

Thou  2  saue  me  and  my  gete. 

ESAW.     Welcom,  brother,  to  kyn  and  kyth, 

Thi  wife  and  childre  that  comes  the  with. 

How  has  thou  faren  in  far  land? 

Tell  me  now  som  good  tythand. 

IACOB.     Well,  my  brother  Esaw, 

If  that  thi  men  no  bale  me  brew.  130 

DiAt  strut's  suis. 

ESAW.     Wemo  !  felows,  hold  youre  hend, 
Ye  se  that  I  and  he  ar  frend, 

1  Supplied  by  E.  E.  T.  S.  2  MS.  that. 


JACOB.  65 

And  frenship  here  will  we  fulfill, 

Syn  that  it  is  Godts  will. 

IACOB.     God  yeld  you,  brothere,  that  it  so  is 

That  thou  thi  hyne  so  wold  kys. 

ESAW.     Nay,  lacob,  my  dere  brothere, 

I  shall  the  tell  all  anothere  : 

Thou  art  my  lord  thrugh  destyny. 

Go  we  toged<?r,  both  thou  and  I,  140 

To  my  fad^r  and  his  wife, 

That  lofys  the,  brother,  as  thare  lyfe. 

Explicit  lacob. 


CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 


Reprinted  from  "The  Chester  Plays.  Reedited  from  'the  MSS.  by  the  late 
Dr.  Hermann  Deimling,  Part  I,  E.  E.  T.  S.,  1892. '\  I  have  printed  only  MS.  Harl. 
2124,  because,  although  written  in  1607,  it  represents,  I  believe,  a  more  primitive 
form  of  this  play  than  the  other  MSS.  The  Duke  of  Devonshire's  MS.  (written  by 
Edward  Gregorie,  1591)  was  not  collated  by  Deimling;  consequently  I  do  not 
know  which  version  of  our  play  it  presents,  but  Pollard's  partial  collation  seems 
to  indicate  that  it  would  agree  with  the  others.  Only  occasionally  have  I  recorded 
the  readings  of  the  other  MSS.  For  convenience  I  have  used  Deimling's  symbols; 
thus,  H.=  Harl.  2124  (partly  written  by  James  Miller,  1607),  B.=  Bodley  175  (writ- 
ten by  Wm.  Bedford,  1604),  W.  =  Brit.  Mus.,  Addit.  10,305  (written  by  George 
Bellin,  1592),  h.=  Harl.  2013  (written  by  George  Bellin,  1600).  D.  indicates 
Deimling's  text,  which  agrees  with  H.,  unless  otherwise  specified.  I  have  made 
no  changes  without  notification,  except  in  punctuation,  capitals,  and  mode  of  indi- 
cating stanza-structure. 


Pagina  Quinta  de  Mose  et  Rege'  Balaak  et  Balaam 
Propheta.     The  Cappers. 

DEUS.     Moyses,  my  servaunte  life  and  dere, 
And  all  the  people  that  be  here, 
You  wott  in  Egipte  when  you  were, 

Out  of  thralldome  I  you  broughte. 
I  wyll,  you  honour  no  God  saue  me, 
Ne  mawmentrye  none  make  yee, 
My  name  in  vayne  nym1  not  yee, 

For  that  me  lykes  naughte. 

I  will,  you  hold  your  holy  daye, 
And  worshipp  also,  by  all  waye, 
Father  and  mother  all  that  you  maye, 
And  slaye  no  man  no-where. 

l  H.  myn ;  B.  W.  h.  nam. 


PROCESSUS    PROPHETARUM.  67 

Fornication  you  shall  flee  ; 
No  mens  goods  steale  yee  ; 
Ne  in  no  place  abyde  ne  bee 

Fake  wytnes  for  to  beare.  16 

Your  neigheboures 1  wyves  covettes  noughte, 
Servant  ne  good  that  he  hath  boughte, 
Oxe  ne  asse,  in  deede  ne  thoughte, 

Nor  any-thinge  that  is  his, 
Ne  wrongefullie  to  haue  his  thinge 
Agayne  his  will  and  his  lykinge. 
In  all  these  doe  my  byddinge, 

That  you  doe  not  amisse.  24 

Tune  princeps  Sinagogcs  statuet  eum  *  in  loco  et  quasi  pro  populo  loquatur  ad 
Dominum  et  May  sen. 

PRINCEPS  SINAGOG^E.     Ah  !  good  Lord,  much  of  mighte, 
Thou  comes  w/th  so  great  lighte  ! 
We  bene  so  afraide  of  this  sighte, 

No  man  dare  speake  ne  see  ; 8 
God  is  so  grym  wz'th  us  to  deale, 
But  Moyses,  master,  with  us  thou  mele, — 
Els  we  dyen  many  and  feele, 

So  afrayde  bene  all  wee.  32 

Tune  Moyses  stans  super  montem  loquatur  ad  populum. 

MOYSES.  Gods  folke,  drede  you  noughte  ; 
To  prove  you  wz'th,  God  hath  this  wrought, 
To  make  you  afrayd  in  deede  and  thoughte, 

Aye  for  to  avoyde  synne. 
By  this  sight  you  may  now  see 
That  he  is  pereles  of  postye  ; 
Therfore  his  teachinge  look  done  yee, 

Thereof  that  you  not  blyn.  40 

1  D.  neightboures. 

2  H.  eu ;  D.  prints  &mm,  but  suggests  eo  ;  Zupitza  suggested  se. 
»  MS.  looke ;  corr.  by  D. 


68  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

Pj?/yvcEPS  SixAGOGsE.     Ah  !  highe  Lord,  God  almighte, 
That  Moyses  shynes  wondrous  bright ! 
I  may  no  way  for  great  lighte 

Now  looke  upon  hym. 

And  horned  he  semes  in  our  sighte  !  Exodus,  34.  29. 

Sith  he  came  to  the  hyll,  dight 
Our  lawe  he  hase,  I  hope,  aright, 

For  was  he  never  so  grym.  48 

.J/0YSES.     You,  Gods  folke  of  Israeli, 
Hearkens  to  me  that  loven  heale  ; 
God  bade  you  sholde  doe,  everye  deale, 

As  that  I  shall  saye. 
Six  dayes  boldelye  worches  all, 
The  seaventh  Sabaoth  you  shall  call ; 
That  daye  for  ought  that  may  befall 

Hallowed  shalbe  aye.  56 

That  doth  not  this  deede  deade  shall  be. 
In  houses  fire  shall  no  man  see. 
First  fruytes  to  God  offer  yee, 

For  so  hym-selfe  bade. 
Gould  and  silver  offers  also, 
Purple,  bisse,  and  other  moe, 
To  hym  that  shall  save  you  from  woe 

And  helpe  you  in  yo»r  neede.  64 

.EXPOSITOR.     Lordinges,  this  comaundment 
Was  of  the  Old  Testamente, 
And  yet  is  used  wz'th  good  entent 

W/th  all  that  good  bene. 
This  storye  all  if  we  shold  fong, 
To  playe  this  moneth  it  were  to  longe  ; 
Wherfore  most  frutefull  there  amonge 

We  taken,  as  shall  be  sene.  J2 

Also  we  read  in  this  storie, 
God  in  the  Mownt  of  Synai 


PROCESSUS    PROPHETARUM.  69 

Toke  Moises  these  comaundment/j  verelye, 

Wrytten  wzth  his  owne  hande 
In  tables  of  ston,  as  reade  I  ; 
But  when  men  honoured  mawmentry, 
He  brake  them  in  anger  hastelye, 

For  that  he  wold  not  wonde.  80 

But  afterward  sone,  leeve  ye  me, 

Other  tables  of  stone  made  he, 

In  w^zch  God  bade  wrytten  shold  be 

His  wordes  that  were  before, 
The  which  tables  shryned  were 
After  as  God  can  Moyses  leare  ; 
And  that  shryne  to  them  was  deare 

Thereafter  evermore.  88 

Tune  Moyses  descendet  de  monte,  et  ex  altera  parte  mantis  dicet  rex  Balaac 
equitando. 

BALAACK  REX.     I,  Balaack,  king  of  Moab  land, 
All  Israeli  and  I  had  in 1  hand, 
I  am  so  wroth,  I  wold  not  wond 

To  slaye  them,  ech  wighte  ; 
For  their  God  helpes  them  stiflye 
Of  other  landes  to  haue  mastrye, 
That  it  is  booties,  witterlie, 

Against  them  for  to  fighte.  96 

What  nation  soever  dose  them  noye, 
Moyses  prayes  anone  in  hye, 
Therefore  haue  they  sone  the  victorie 

And  other  men  2  haue  the  worse, 
Therfore  how  will  I  wroken  be, 
I  am  bethought,  as  mot  I  the  ! 
Balaam  I  will  shall  come  to  me 

That  people  for  to  curse,  104 

1  D.  I  had  it  in  my ;  B.  W.  h.  and  I  hand  in. 

2  D.  has  they  after  men. 


7O  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

For  sworde  ne  knife  may  not  avayle 
These  ilke  shroes  for  to  assaile  ; 
That  fowndes  to  fight  he  shall  faile, 

For  sicker  is  hym  no  boote. 

All  nations  they  doe  any,  \Cast  up. j1 

And  my-selfe  they  can  destroie, 
As  ox  that  gnawes  biselie 

The  grasse  right  to  the  roote.  112 

Who-so  Balaam  blesses,  i-wis,2 
Blessed  sickerlie  that  man  is  ; 
Who-so  he  curses,  fareth  amisse : 

Such  loos  over  all  hase  he.  Numbers,  22.  6. 

Therfore  goe  fetch  hym,  bachler, 
That  he  may  curse  the  people  here  ; 
For,  sicker,  on  them  in  no  manner 

Mon  we  not  wroken  be.  120 

MILES.     Syr,  on  your  errand  I  will  gone  ; 
Yt  shall  be  well  done,  and  that  anone, 
For  he  shall  wreak  you  on  your  fone, 

The  people  of  Israeli. 

BALAACK.     Yea,  looke  thou  het  hym  gold  gret  wone, 
And  riches  for  to  lyve  upon, 
To  destroy  them  if  he  can, 

The  freakes  that  be  so  fell.  1 28 

Tune  ibit  ad  Balaam. 

MILES.     Balaam,  my  lorde  greetes  well  thee 
And  prayes  the  right  sone  at  hym  to  be, 
To  curse  the  people  of  ludy, 

That  do  hym  great  anoye. 
BALAAM.     Forsooth,  I  tell  the,  bacheler, 
That  I  may  haue  no  power 
But  if  Gods  will  were  ; 

That  shall  I  witt  in  hye.  136 

1  Not  in  H. ;  supplied  from  the  other  MSS. 

2  D.  I  wis. 


PROCESSUS    PROPHETARUM.  Jl 

1  [Tune  ibit  Balaam  ad  consulendum  Dominum  in  oration*,  et  sedens*  dicat  Deus. 
Balaam  prayeth  to  God  one  his  Anees.] 

DEUS  (in  supremo  loco).     Balaam,  I  comaund  the, 
King  Balaak  his  bydding  that  thou  flee  ; 
That  people  that  is  blessed  of  me 

Curse  thou  not  by  no  waye. 
BALAAM.     Lord,  I  must  doe  thy  byddinge, 
Though  e  it  be  to  me  unlykeing  ; 
For,  truly,  much  wynninge 

I  might  haue  had  to-daye.  144 

DEUS.  Thoughe  the  folke  be  my  foe, 
Thou  shalt  haue  leaue  thydder  to  goe, 
But  looke  that  thou  doe  right  soe 

As  I  haue  thee  taughte. 
BALAAM.     Lord,  it  shall  be  done  in  height, 
This  asse  shall  beare  me  aright. 
Goe  we  together  anone,  sz'r  knight, 

For  now  leave  I  haue  coughte.  152 

Tune  eguitabunt  versus  regent,  et  eundo  dicat  Balaam  I 

Now,  by  the  law  I  leve  upon, 
Sith  I  haue  leaue  for  to  gone, 
They  shalbe  cursed  every  one, 

And  I  ought  wyn  maye. 
If  Balaak  hold  that  he  has  heighte 
Gods  hest  I  set  at  light ; 
Warryed  they  shalbe  this  night 

Or  that  I  wend  awaye.  160 

Tune  angelus  obuiabit  Balaam  cum  gladio  extracto  in  manu,  et  stabit 

Goe  forth,  Burnell,  goe  forth,  goe ! 
What  the  dyvell  !  my  asse  will  not  goe  ; 
Served  she  me  never  soe. 

1  Not  in  H. ;  supplied  from  the  other  MSS. 
3  B.  scedens ;  W.  sedentes ;  h.  omits. 


72  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

What  sorrow  so  her  dose  nye  ? 
Rise  up,  Burnell  !  make  thee  bowne, 
And  helpe  to  beare  me  out  the  towne ; 
Or,  as  brok  I  my  crowne, 

Thou  shalt  full  sore  abye  !  1 68 

Tune  per  cut  let  asinam,  et  loquetur  aliquis  in  asina. 

ASINA.     Maister,  thou  dost  evell,  witterly, 
So  good  an  ass  as  me  to  nye, 
Now  hast  thou  beaten  me  thry 

That  beare  thee  thus  aboute. 
BALAAM.     Burnell,  whye  begiles  thou  me, 
When  I  haue  most  nede  to  the  ? 
ASINA.     That  sight  that  I  before  me  see 

Makes  me  downe  to  lowte.  176 

Am  I  not,  master,  thyne  owne  ass, 

That  ever  before  ready  was 

To  beare  the  whether  thou  woldest  pas  ? 

To  smyte  me  now  yt  is  shame. 
Thou  wottest  well,  master,  pardy, 
Thou  haddest  never  ass  like  to  me, 
Ne  never  yet  thus  served  I  thee  ; 

Now  I  am  not  to  blame.  184 

Tune  Balaam  videns  angelum.  evaginatum  gladium  kabentettt,  adorans  dicat : 

BALAAM.     Ah  !  Lord,  to  thee  I  make  avowe,1 
I  had  no  sight  of  thee  erre  now  ; 
Lyttle  wist  I  it  was  thou 

That  feared  my  asse  soe. 

ANGELUS.     Why  hast  thou  beaten  thy  asse  thry? 
Now  I  am  comen  thee  to  nye, 
That  changes  thy  purpose  falcelye, 

And  woldest  be  my  foe.  192 

1 D.  a  vowe. 


PROCESSUS    PROPHETARUM.  73 

And  the  ass  had  not  downe  gone, 
I  wold  haue  slayne  the  here  anone. 
BALAAM.     Lord,  haue  pittye  me  upon, 

For  sinned  I  haue  sore  ! 
Is  it  thy  will  that  I  forth  goe  ? 

ANGELUS.     Yea  ;  but  looke  thou  doe  this  folk  no  woe 
Otherwise  then  God  bade  thee  tho 

And  saide  to  thee  before.  200 

Tune  Balaam  et  miles  ibunt,  Balaack  venit  in  obuiam. 

BALAACK.     Ah  !  welcome,  Balaam,  my  frend  1 
For  all  myne  anguish  thou  shalt  end, 
If  that  thy  will  be  to  wend, 

And  wreake  me  of  my  foe. 

BALAAM.     Nought  may  I  speake,  so  haue  I  win, 
But  as  God  puttes  me  in, 
To  forby  all  and  my  kin  ; 

Therfore,  sure,  me  is  woe.  208 

BALAACK.     Come  forth,  Balaam,  come  wz'th  me  I 
For  on  this  hill,  so  mot  I  thee, 
The  folke  of  Israeli  thou  shalt  see  ; 

And  curse  them,  I  thee  praye. 
Thou  shalt  haue  riches,  golde  and  fee, 
And  I  shall  aduance  thy  dignytye, 
To  curse  men,  —  cursed  they  may  be 

That  thou  shalt  see  to-day.  „  216 

Tune  adducens  secum  Balaam  in  montem  et  ad  australem  partent  respiciens 
dicat  ut  seguitur?- 

BALAAM.     How  may  I  curse  them  in  this  place, 
The  people  that  God  blessed  hase  ? 
In  them  is  both  might  and  grace, 
And  that  is  alwayes  scene. 

l  This  stage  direction  seems  to  indicate  that  a  speech  of  Balaac's  has 
dropped  out, — perhaps  the  stanza  contained  in  the  other  version: 
Lo !  Balaam,  thou  seest  here 
Godis  people  all  in  feare, 


74  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

Wytnes  I  may  none  beare 
Against  God  that  thus 1  can  were 
His  people  that  no  man  may  deare 

Ne  treble  wz'th  no  teene.  224 

I  saye  these  folkes  shall  haue  their  will, 
That  no  nation  shall  them  gryll ; 
The  goodnes  that  they  shall  fulfill 

Nombred  may  not  be  ; 
Their  God  shall  them  kepe  and  save. 
No  other  repreve  shall  they  non  2  have  ; 
But  such  death  as  they  shall  haue 

I  praye  God  send  me.  232 

BALAACK.     What  the  devill 8  eyles  the,  poplart  ? 
Thy  speach  is  not  worth  a  fart, 
Doted  I  wot  well  thou  art, 

For  woodlie  thou  has  wrougt. 
I  bade  thee  curse  them,  every  one, 
And  thou  blest  them,  blood  and  bone  ; 
To  this  north  syde  thou  shalt  anon, 

For  here  thy  deed  is  nought.  240 

Tune  adducet  eum  ad  borealem  partem, 

BALAAM.     Herken,  Balaack,  what  I  say  ; 
God  may  not  gibb  by  no  waye, 
That  he  saith,  is  veray, 
For  he  may  not  lye. 

Cittie,  castell,  and  riuer ; 

Looke  now  how  likes  thie. 
Curse  them  now  at  my  prayer, 
As  thou  wilte  be  to  me  full  dere 
And  in  my  realme  most  of  power 

And  greatest  under  me. 

Tune  Balaam  versus  austruni  :  dicat  Balaham  : 
1  D.  this.        2  So  B.  W.  h. ;  H.  has  may  I  not.        3  D.  devilles. 


PROCESSUS    PROPHETARUM.  75 

To  bless  his  folk  he  me  sent ; 
Therfore  I  saie,  as  I  am  kent 
That  in  this  land,  verament, 

Is  used  no  mawmentry  :  Numbers,  23. 19.     248 

To  lacobs  blood  and  Israeli 
God  shall  send  ioy  and  heale  ; 
And  as  a  lyon  in  his  weale 

Christ  shalbe  haunsed  hye, 
And  rise  also  in  noble  araye 
As  a  prynce  to  wyn  great  paye, 
Overcome  his  enemyes,  as  I  say,  Numbers,  24.  9. 

And  them  bowndly  bye.  256 

BALAACK.     What  the  devill  is  this  ?     Thou  cursest  them  naught, 
Nor  blessest  them  nether,  as  me  thought. 
BALAAM.     Syr  kinge,  this  I  thee  beheight 

Or  that  I  come  here. 

BALAACK.     Yet  shalt  thou  to  an-other  place, 
Ther  Gods  power  for  to  embrace. 
The  dyvell  geve  the  hard  grace 

But  thou  doe  my  prayer  !  264 

A  d  occidentalem  partem. 

BALAAM.     Ah  !  Lord,  that  here  is  fayre  wonning, 
Halls,  chambers  of  great  lyking, 
Valleyes,  woodes,  grass  springing, 

Fayre  yerdes 1  and  eke  river !  Numbers,  24.  5,  6. 

I  wot  well  God  made  all  this 
His  folk  to  lyue  in  ioye  and  blisse. 
That  warryeth  them,  warried  is  ; 

That  blesseth  2  them,  to  God  is  deare.  272 

BALAACK.     Popelard  !  thou  preachest  as  a  pie  ; 
The  deuill  of  hell  thee  destroy  ! 
I  bade  thee  curse  myne  enemye  ; 
Therfore  thou  came  me  to. 

1  D.  yordes.  '2  D.  blessest 


76  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

Now  hast  thou  blessed  them  here  thry, 
For  thou  meanes  me  to  nye. 
BALAAM.     So  tould  I  the  before  twye, 

I  might  none  other  doe.  280 

BALAACK.     Out !  alas  !  what  dyvell  ayles  thee  ? 

I  haue  het  thee  gold  and  fee 

To  speake  but  wordes  two  or  three, 

And  thou  makes  much  distance. 
Yet  once  I  will  assay  thee, 
If  any  boote  of  bale  will  be  ; 
And  if  thou  falcely  now  faile  me, 

Mahound  geue  thee  mischance  !  288 

Tune  Balaam  ad  ctelum  respiciens  prophetandol 

BALAAM.  Orietur  Stella  ex  lacob,  et  exurget  Homo  de  Is- 
raeli, et  confringet  omnes  duces  alienigenarum^-  et  erit 
omnis  terra  possessio  z  eius. 

Now  one  thinge  I  will  tell  you  all,  Numbers,  24.  18. 

Hereafter  what  shall  befall : 

A  starre  of  lacob  springe  shall, 
A  man  of  Israeli ; 

He  shall  overcome  and  haue  in  band 

All  kinges,  dukes  of  strang  land, 

Arid  all  the  world  haue  in  his  hand, 

As  lord  to  dight  and  deale.  296 

[The  other  prophets  enter,  attended  by  the  Expositor^* 

ESAYAS.     I  saye  a  mayden  meeke  and  mylde 
Shall  conceave  and  beare  a  childe, 
Cleane,  wzthout  workes  wilde, 
To  wyn  mankinde  to  wayle  ; 

1  D.  alieginarum. 

2  D.  professio,  but  suggests  possessio. 

3  //  is,  hmvever,  possible — even  likely — that  all  -were  present  on  the  stage 
from  the  beginning. 


PROCESSUS    PROPHETARUM.  77 

Butter  and  hony  shall  be  his  meate,  Isaiah,  7. 14  ff. 

That  he  may  all  evill  forgeat, 
Our  soules  out  of  hell  to  get, 

And  called  Emanuell.  304 

EXPOSITOR.     Lordinges,  these  wordes  are  so  veray 
That  exposition,  in  good  faye, 
None  needes,  but  you  know  may 

This  word  Emanuell.  ' 
Emanuell  is  as  much  to  saye 
As  "  God  wz'th  us  night  and  day  "  ; 
Therfore  that  name  for  ever  and  aye 

To  his  sonne  cordes  wondrous1  well.  312 

EZECHIELL.  2  Vidi  portam.  in  domo  Domini  clausam  et 
dixit  angelus  ad  me,  "  Porta  hcec  non  aperietur  sed 
clausa  erit "  et  ct.  Ezechiel  capitulo  2. 

I,  Ezechiell,  sothlie  see  Ezekiel,  44. 2. 

A  gate  in  Gods  house  on  hye  ; 
Closed  it  was,  no  man  came  nye  ; 

Then  told  an  angell  me  : 
"  This  gate  shall  no  man  open,  i-wis,8 
For  God  will  come  and  goe  by  this, 
For  him-self  it  reserved  is, 

None  shall  come  there  but  hee."  32° 

EXPOSITOR.     By  this  gate,  lords,  verament, 

I  understand  in  my  intent 

That  way  the  Holy  Ghost  in  went 

When  God  tooke  flesh  and  bloode 
In  that  sweet  mayden  Mary. 
She  was  that  gate,  witterly, 
For  in  her  he  light  graciouslie 

Mankind  to  doe  good.  328 

. 

1  Qy, :  omit  wondrous. 
3  In  D.  this  precedes  EZECHIELL. 
8  D.  I  wis. 


78  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

IHEREMIA.  Deducant^  oculi  met  lacrimas  per  diem  et  noc- 
tem,  et  non  taceant;  contritions  magna  contrita  est 
•virgo  filia  pop\\li  mei  et  plaga  et  ct. 

My  eyes  must  run  and  sorrow  aye  lerem.  14. 17. 

Wzthout  ceasing,  night  and  daye, 
For  my  daughter,  soth  to  saye, 

Shall  suffer  great  anye  ; 
And  my  folke  shall  doe,  in  faye, 
Thinges  that  they  ne  know  may 
To  that  mayden,  by  many  waye, 

And  her  sonne,  sickerlie.  336 

EXPOSITOR.     Lordinges,  this  prophesie,  i-wis,2 
Touches  the  Passion  nothing  amisse, 
For  the  prophet  see  well  this 

What  shall  come,  as  I  reade  : 
That  a  childe  borne  of  a  maye 
Shall  suffer  death,  sooth  to  saye  ; 
And  they  that  mayden  shall  afray, 

Haue  vengeance  for  that  deede.  344 

IONAS.  Clamaui  de  tribulacione  mea  ad  Dominum  et  ex- 
audiutt  ;  de  centre  inferi  clamavi  et  exaudisti  vocem 
meam  et  proiecisti  me. 

I,  lonas,  in  full  great  any  Ion.  2.  2. 

To  God  I  prayed  inwardlie, 

And  he  me  hard  through  his  mercy 

And  on  me  did  his  grace. 
In  myddes  the  sea  cast  was  I 
For  I  wrought  inobedyentlie, 
But  in  a  whalles  bellye 

Three  dayes  saved  I  was.  352 

EXPOSITOR.     Lordinges,  what  this  may  signifie 
Christ  expoundes  apertelie, 
As  we  reade  in  the  Evangely 

That  Christ  him-self  can  saie  : 

1  D.  Deducunt.  .     2  D.  I  wis. 


PROCESSUS    PROPHETARUM.  79 

Right  as  lonas  was  dayes  three 
In  wombe  of  whall,  so  shall  he  be 
In  earth  lyinge,  as  was  he, 

And  rise  the  third  daye.  360 

DAUID.     De  summo  ccelo  egressio  eius,  et  occursus  eius  ad 
j«m[m]z/m  eius.     Psal. 

I,  Davyd,  saie  that  God  almighte  Psalm,  18.  7. 

From  the  highest  heaven  to  earth  will  light, 
And  thidder  againe  wz'th  full  might, 

Both  God  and  man  in  feare  ; 
And  after  come  to  deeme  the  righte. 
May  no  man  shape  them1  of  his  sight 
Ne  deeme2  that  to  mankind  is  dighte, 

But  all  then  must  apeare.  368 

EXPOSITOR.     Lordes,  this  speach  is  so  veray 
That  to  expound  it  to  your  pay 
It  needes  nothing  in  good  faye, 

This  speach  is  so  expresse. 
Each  man  by  it  knowe  may 
That  of  the  Ascention,  soth  to  saie, 
David  prophesied  in  his  daye, 

As  yt  rehearsed  was.  376 

IOELL.     Effundam  de  spiritu  meo  super  omnem  carnem,  et 

prophetabimt  filij  vestri. 

I,  loell,  saie  this  sickerlye  :  loel,  2.  28. 

That  my  Ghost  send  will  I 
Upon  mankinde  merciably 

From  heaven,  sitting  in  see  ; 
Then  shold  [yjour  childre  prophesie, 
Ould  men  meet  swevens,8  wytterly, 
Yong  se  sightes  that  therby 

Many  wise  shall  be.  384 

EXPOSITOR.     Lordinges,  this  prophet  speakes  here 
In  Gods  person,  as  it  were, 

l  Kittredge  suggests  scape  then.    2  gy.;  doome.     3  H.  sweens;  corr.  by  D. 


8O  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

And  prophesies  that  he  will  apeare 

Ghostlie  to  mankinde. 
This  signes  non  other,  in  good  faye, 
But  of  his  deede  on  Whitson-day, 
Sending  his  Ghost,  that  we  ever  may 

On  hym  haue  sadlie  mynd.  392 

MICHEAS.  J  Tu,  Bethlem,  terra  luda,  nequaguam  minima 
es  in  principibus  luda  ;  ex  te  enitn  exiet  Dux  qui  reget 
populum.  meum  Israeli. 

I,  Micheal,  through  my  mynde  Mich.  5.  2 ;  Matth.  2.  6. 

Will  saye  that  man  shall  sothlie  finde 
That  a  childe  of  kinges  kinde 

In  Bethlem  shall  be  borne, 
That  shall  be  duke  to  dight  and  deale, 
And  rule  the  folke  of  Israeli, 
Also  wyn  againe  mankindes  heale, 

That  through  Adam  was  lorne.  400 

EXPOSITOR.     Lordinges,  two  thinges  apertlie 
You  may  see  in  this  prophesie  : 
The  place  certifies  thee  sothlie 

Where  Christ  borne  will  be  ; 
And  after  his  ending,  sickerlie, 
Of  his  deedes  of  great  mercy, 
That  he  shold  sit  soveraynly 

In  heauen,  thereas  is  he.  408 

Moe  prophets,  lordinges,  we  might  play, 
But  yt  wold  tary  much  the  daye  ; 
Therfore  six,  sothe  to  say, 

Are  played  in  this  place. 
Twoo  speakes  of  his  Incarnation, 
Another  of  Christe[s]  Passion, 
The  fourth  of  the  Resurrection. 

416 

1  H.  seems  to  have  In  :  corr.  by  D. 

aD.  points  out  that  a  line  is  missing-  in  MS. 


PROCESSUS    PROPHETARUM.  8 1 

The  fifte  speakes  expreslie 

How  he  from  the  highest  heavenlye 

Light  into  earth  us  to  forby, 

And  after  thydder  steigh 
With  oure  kinde  to  heaven-blisse. 
More  loue  might  he  not  shew,  i-wis,i 
But  right  there-as  hym-selfe  is 

He  haunshed  our  kinde  on  high.  424 

The  sixt  shewes,  you  may  see, 
His  Goste  to  man  send  will  he, 
More  stidfast  that  they  shalbe 

To  loue  God  evermore. 
Thus  that  beleve  2  that  leven  we 
Of  Gods  deedes  that  had  pittye 
One  man,  when  that  he  made  them  free, 

Is  prophesied  here  before.  432 

BALAACK.     Goe  we  forth  !  it  is  no  boote 
Longer  with  this  man  to  moote  ; 
For  God  of  I  ewes  is  crop  and  roote, 

And  lord  of  heaven  and  hell. 
Now  see  I  well  no  man  on  lyue 
Gaynes  wz'th  him  for  to  stryve  ; 
Therefore  here,  as  mot  I  thryue, 

I  will  no  longer  dwell.  440 

EXPOSITOR.     Lordinges,  much  more  matter 
Is  in  this  story  then  you  see  here  ; 
But  the  substance,  w/thout  were, 

Is  played  you  beforne. 
And  by  these  prophesies,  leav  you  me, 
Three  kinges,  as  you  shall  played  see, 
Presented  at  his  Nativitye 

Christ,  when  he  was  borne.  448 

Finis  paginee  quintet. 
1  D.  I  wis.  2  D.  beleven. 


HEGGE    PLAYS. 


Printed  from  MS.  Cott.  Vesp.  D.  viii ;  see  p.  31,  above.  H.  denotes  the  readings 
of  Halliwell's  edition.  P.  denotes  the  readings  of  Pollard,  who  printed  the  first 
139  lines  in  "  English  Miracle  Plays,  Moralities  and  Interludes,  ed.  A.  W.  Pollard, 
Oxford,  1890  (2d  ed.  1895)."  K.  denotes  the  readings  of  Kolbing,  Englische  Studien, 
XXI,  166.  The  few  unnoted  variants  are  confined,  I  think,  to  cases  in  which  my 
copyist  did  not  regard  the  curl  or  stroke  as  sufficient  to  indicate  final  -e. 


[THE   SALUTATION   AND    CONCEPTION.] 

CONTEMPLAC/O.     ffowre  thowsand  sex  vndryd  foure  ^ere,1!  telle, 

Man  ffor  his  offens  and  ffowle  foly 
Hath  leyn2  yeres  in  the.  peynes  of  helle, 

And  were  wurthy  to  ly  ther'\n.  endlesly  ; 

But  thanne  xulde  perysche  your  grete  mercye.8 
Good  Lord,  haue  on  man  pyte, 

Haue  mende  of  th&  prayoar  seyd  by  Ysaie  : 
Lete  mercy  meke  thin  hyest  mageste.  8 

Wolde  God  thou  woldyst  breke  th\n  hefne  myghtye, 

And  com  down  here  in-to  erth 
And  levyn  ^erej  thre  and  threttye, 

Thyn  famyt  ffolke  wM  th\  fode  4  to  fede. 

To  staunche  Meir  6  thryste  lete  th\  syde  blede  ; 
ffor  erste  6  wole  not  be  mad  redempczbn. 

Cum  vesyte  7  vs  in  tMs  tyme  of  nede  ; 
Of  th\  careful  creatures,  Lord,  haue  compassyon.8  16 

1  K.  omits  3ere.  6  MS.  th\. 

a  MS.  loyn.  6  H.  P.  erst. 

8  H.  mercy.  7  H.  vysite ;  P.  vesite. 

*  H.  ffode.  8  A  curl  over  on. 


THE  SALUTATION  AND  CONCEPTION.         83 

A  !  woo  to  vs  wrecchis 1  that  wrecchis  be, 

ffor  God  hath  addyd  ssorwe  2  to  sorwe. 
I  prey  the,  Lord,  thi  sowlys  8  com  se, 

How  thei  ly  and  sobbe  bothe  cue  and  morwe.4 

Wzt^  th\  blyssyd  blood  from  balys  5  hem  borwe, 
Thy  careful  creaturys  cryenge  in  captyvyte  ; 

A  !  tary  not,  gracyous  Lord,  tyl  it  be  to-morwe  ! 
The  devyl  hath  dysceyved  hem  be  his  iniquite.  24 

"  A  !  "  quod  leremye,  "  who  xal  gyff  wellys  to  my«  eynes 

That  I  may  wepe  bothe  day  and  nyght 
To  se  oure  bretheryn  in  so  longe  peynes  ?  " 

Here  myschevys  a-mende  may  th\  mechi?  myght. 

As  grett  as  the.  se,  Lord,  was  Adamys  contryssyon  ryght. 
ffrom  oure  hed  is  falle  6  the.  crowne  ; 

Man  is  comeryd  in  synne  ;  I  crye  to  th\  syght, 
Gracyous  Lord  !  gracyous  Lord  !  gracyous  Lord,  come  downe  !  32 

VIRTUTES.     Lord,  plesyth "  it  th'me  hyj  domynac/on 

On  man,  that  thou.  made,  to  haue  pyte  ! 
Patryarchys  and  pr<?phetys  han  mad  supplycac/on  ; 

Oure  offyse  is  to  presente  here  prayeres  to  the. 

Aungelys,  archaungelys,  we  thre 
That  ben  in  the  fyrst  ierarchie, 

ffor  man  to  thin  hy  mageste 
"  Mercy  !  mercy  !  mercy  !  "  we  crye.  40 

The  aungel,  Lord,  them  made  so  gloryous, 

Whos  synne  hath  mad  \\yrn  a  devyl  in  helle, 
He  mevyd  man  to  be  so  contraryous. 

Man  repentyd  ;  and  he  in  his  obstynacye  doth  dwelle. 

Hese  grett  males,  good  Lord,  repelle, 
And  take  man  on-to  thi  grace  ; 

Lete  thi  mercy  make  \\yrn  -with  au#gelys  dwelle, 
Of  Locyfere  to  restore  the  place.  48 

1  K.  strikes  out  wrecchis.  2  H.  ssorowe.  3  P.  sowles. 

*  H.  P.  morewe;  both  eue  &  morwe  is  written  in  another  hand  over  the 
cincelled -words:  ffor  syknes  &  sorwe.  5  MS.  babys;  corr.  by  H. 

6  H.  P.  ffalle.  '  K.  plese. 


84  HEGGE    PLAYS. 

PATER.     Propter  miseriam  inopum 
Et  gemitum  pauperum 
Nw\c  exurgam.1 

ffor  the  wretchydnes  of  the  nedy 

And  the.  porys  lamentaczbn 
Now  xal  I  ryse  thai  am  almyghty. 

Tyme  is  come  of  reconsyliaczon  ; 

My  pwphetys  with  prayers  haue  made  supplicac/on, 
My  contryte  creaturys  crye  alL?  for  comforte, 

All  my«  aungellys  in  hefne,  wzt^-owte  cessac/on, 
They  crye  that  grace  to  man  myght  exorte.  59 

VERITAS.     Lord,  I  am  th\  dowtere,  Trewth, 

Thou  wylt 2  se  I  be  not  lore  ; 
Thyn  vnkynde  creature  to  save  wen?  rewthe  ; 

The  offens  of  man  hath  grevyd  the  sore. 

Whan  Adam  had  synnyd,  thou  seydest  yore 
That  he  xulde  deye  and  go  to  helle  ; 

And  now  to  blysse  hym  to  restore  — 
Twey  contraryes  mow  not  to-gedyr  dwelle.  67 

Thi 8  Trewthe,  Lord,  xal  leste  w/t^-owtyn  ende  ; 

I  may  in  no  wyse  ffro  the  go. 
That  wretche  4  that  was  to  the  so  vnkende, 

He  may  not  haue  to  moche  6  wo. 

He  dyspysyd  the  and  plesyd  th\  ffo. 
Thou  art  his  creatowr  and  he  is  th\  creature  ; 

Thou  hast  lovyd  Trewthe,  it  is  seyd,  evyr-mo  ; 
Ther-iore  in  peynes  lete  hym  evyr-more  endure.  75 

MISERICORDIA.     O  ffadyr  of  Mercy,  and  God  of  Comforte, 

That  counsell*  6  us  in  eche  trybulaczbn, 
Lete  your  dowtere,  Mercy,  to  }ow  resorte  ; 

And  on  man,  that  is  myschevyd,  haue  compassyon. 

1  MS.  exergam  ;  corr.  by  H.  *  H.  P.  wrecche. 

2  H.  P.  wilt.  6  H.  P.  meche. 

8  H.  P.  Thy.  6  K.  emends  to  counsellest. 


THE  SALUTATION  AND  CONCEPTION.        85 

Hym  grevyth  fful  gretly  his  transgressyon  ; 
AIL?  hefne  and  erthe  crye  ffor  Mercy  ; 

Me  semyth  ther  xuld  be  non  excepczon, 
Ther  prayers  ben  offeryd  so  specyally.  83 

Trewthe  x  sseyth  she  hath  evyr  be,  than. 

I  graunt  it  wel  ;  she  hath  be  so. 
And  thou  seyst  endlesly  that  Mercy  thou.  hast  kept  ffor  man  ; 

Than,  mercyabyl  Lorde,  kepe  us  bothe  to  ! 

Thu  seyst,  Veritas  mea  et  ^/isericord/a  mea  cum  ipso  ; 
Suffyr  not  thi  sowlys  than  in  sorwe  to  slepe  ; 

That  helle  hownde  that  hatyth  th&  —  byddyth  2  \\yrn  ho  ! 
Th\  love,  man,  no  lengere  lete  hym  kepe.  91 

IUSTICIA.     Mercy,  me  merveylyth8  what  ^ow  movyth  ! 

3e  know  wel  I  am  your  system,  Ryght-wysnes. 
God  is  ryghtful 4  and  ryghtffulnes  lovyth  ; 

Man  offendyd  hym  that  is  endles  ; 

Therfore  his  endles  punchement  may  nevyr  sees. 
Also  he  forsoke  his  Makers  that  made  hym  of  clay, 

And  Me  devyl  to  his  mayster  he  ches. 
Xulde  he  be  savyd?     Nay,  nay,  nay  !  99 

As  wyse  as  is  God  he  wolde  a  be  ; 

This  was  the  abhomynabyl  presumption. 
It  is  seyd  —  36  know  wel  th\s  of  me  — 

That  the  Ryghtwysnes  of  God  hath  no  diffyniczbn  ; 

Therffore  lette  5  this  be  oure  conclusyon*?  : 
He  that  sore  synnyd,  ly  stylle  in  6  sorwe. 

He  may  nevyr  make  a  seyth  be 7  resontf  ; 
Whoo  myght  thanne  thens  hym  borwe?  107 

M.ISERICORDIA..     Systyr  Ryghtwysnes,  }e  are  to  vengeable. 

Endles  synne  God  endles  may  restore  ; 
Above  alL?  hese  werkys  God  is  mercyabyl. 

1  MS.  Threwthe.  5  H.  P.  late. 

2  K.  emends  to  bydde.  6  A  stroke  over  n. 

3  H.  mervelyth.  ^  H.  proposes  subtyl/br  seyth  be. 
*  H.  P.  ryghtfful. 


86  HEGGE    PLAYS. 

7%ow  he  for-sook  God  be  synne,  be  feyth  he  for-sook 
hym  never  tho.  mor<?  ; 

And  /^ow  he  pr^sumyd  nevyr  so  sore, 
^e  must  consyder  //ze  frelnes  of  mankende. 

Lerne,1  and  }e  lyst,  —  //zis  is  Goddys  lore,  — 
7%e  Mercy  of  God  is  wzt^-owtyn  ende.  115 

PAX.2     To  span?  your  speches,  systerej,  it  syt ; 

It  is  not  onest,  in  Vertuys  to  ben  dyscenczbn. 
The  Pes  of  God  ovyr-comyth  alh?  wytt. 

T/iow  8  Trewth  and  Ryght  sey  grett  reson^, 

3ett  Mercy  seyth  best  to  my  pleson  ; 
ffor  yf  mannys  sowle  xulde  abyde  in  helle, 

Be-twen  God  and  man  evyr  xulde  be  dyvysyon, 
And  than  myght  not  I,  Pes,  dwelle.  123 

There-fore  me  semyth  best,  je  thus  acorde, 

Than  hefne  and  erthe  }e  xul  qwenve  : 
Putt  bothe  your  sentens  in  oure  Lorde 

And  in  his  hy^  wysdam  lete  hyn  deme, — 

This  is  most  syttynge,4  me  xuide  seme,  — 
And  lete  se  how  we  ffowre  may  ahV  abyde. 

Thai  mannys  sowle  it 6  xulde  p*?rysche  it  wore  sweme, 
Or  thai  ony  of  vs  ffro  others  xulde  dyvyde.  131 

VERITAS.     In  trowthe,  hereto  I  consente  ;6 

I  wole  prey  oure  Lorde  it  may  so  be. 
IUSTICIA.     I,  Rygtwysnes,7  am  wele  contente, 

ffor  in  hym  is  very  equyte. 

WliSERicoRDiA..     And  I,  Mercy,  ffro  this,  counsel  wole 

not  fle, 
Tyl  Wysdam  hath  seyd  I  xal  ses. 

PAX.     Here  is  God  now  ;  here  is  Vnyte  ; 
Hefne  and  erth  is  plesyd  wz't^  Pes.  1 39 

[They  appear  before  the  Son.] 

1  H.  P.  Lerne ;  MS.  Lome.  4  H.  fyttynge. 

2  A  stroke  over  AX.  6  K.  strikes  out  it. 
»  H.  Thou. 

6  Qy.:  I,  Trowthe,  herevnto  I  (or  do)  consente. 
'  H.  P.  Ryghtwysnes. 


THE  SALUTATION  AND  CONCEPTION.        8/ 

FFILIUS.     I    thynke  Me   thoughtys   of   Pes,  and  nowth   of 
Wykkydnes  ! 

This  I  deme  to  ses  your  contraversy  :  — 
If  Adam  had  not  deyd,  peryschyd  had  Ryghtwysnes, 

And  also  Trewth^  had  be  lost  ther-by,  — 

Trewth  and  Ryght  wolde  chastyse  ffoly  ; 
^iff  a-nother  deth  come  not,  Mercy  xulde  perysch*  ; 

Z/fcan  Pes  were  exyled  ffynaly  : 1 
So  tweyn  dethis  must  be,  jow  fown?  to  cheryschtf.  147 

But  he  thai  xal  deye,  36  must  knawe 

That  in  hym  may  ben  non  iniquyte, 
Thai  helle  may  holde  hym  be  no  lawe, 

But  thai  he  may  pas  at  hese  lyberte. 

Qwere  swyche  on  is,  provyde  2  and  se, 
And  hese  deth  for  mannys  deth  xal  be  redempc/on  ; 

Alle  hefne  and  erth  seke  now  ^e. 
Plesyth  it  $ow  this  conwclusyon?  155 

[  They  seek ;  and,  returning,  say :  ] 

VERITAS.     I,  Trowthe,  haue  sowte  th&  erthe  wzt^-owt  and 
w/t^-inne, 

And  in  sothe  ther  kan  non  be  fownde 
Thai,  is  of  o  day  byrth  wzt^-owte  synne, 

Nor  to  thai  deth  wole  be  bownde. 

M.ISERICORDIA..     I,  Mercy,  haue  ronne  thz.  hevynly  re- 

gyon  rownde, 
And  ther  is  non  of  thai,  chary te 

Thai  ffor  man  wole  suffre  a  deddly  wounde  ; 
I  can  nott  wete  how  this  xal  be.  163 

IUSTICIA.     Sun?8  I  can  fynde  non  sumcyent, 

ffor  servauntys  vnprofytable  we  be  ech<?  on  ; 
Hese  *  love  nedyth  to  be  ful  ardent 

That  for  man  to  helle  wolde  gon. 

1  H.  ffynyaly.  « In  MS.  this  looks  like  Our*. 

2  MS.  H.  his  pr«vyde.         *  MS.  He  ;  H.  Hes. 


88  HEGGE    PLAYS. 

PAX.     That  God  may  do,  is  non  but  on  ; 
Therivre  —  Mis  is  be  hys  avyse  — 

He  thai  }aff  this  cou«selk,  lete  hyw  ^eve  Me  comforte 

alon, 
ffor  Me  conclusyon  in  hym  of  alk  Mese  lyse.  171 

FFILIUS.     It  peyneth  me  thai  man  I  made  ; 1 

Thai  is  to  seyn,  peyne  I  must  suffre  sore.2 
A  counsel  of  Me  Trinite  must  be  had, 

Whiche  of  vs  xal  man  restore. 

PATER.     In  your  wysdam,  son,  man  was  mad  thore, 
And  in  wysdam  was  his  temptaczon  ; 

T/ierior,  sone,    sapyens  ^e  must  ordeyn  here-fore, 
And  se  how  of  man  may  be  salvac/bn.8  1 79 

FILIUS.     ffadyr,  he  thai  xal  do  Mis  must  be  both  God  and 
man. 

Lete  me  se  how  I  may  were  thai  wede  ; 
And  syth<?  in  my  wysdam  he  be-gan, 

I  am  redy  to  do  Mis  dede. 

Sp/-ff/rus  SANCTUS.     I,  the  Holy  Cost,  of  $ow  tweyn 

do  precede  ; 
This  cha'rge  I  wole  take  on  me  ; 

I,  Love,  to  your  lover  xal  ^ow  lede  : 
TMs  is  Me  assent  of  our/?  Vnyte.  187 

M.ISERICORDIA.     Now   is   Me   loveday   mad   of    us   fowre 
fynialy  ; 

Now  may  we  leve  in  pes,  as  we  were  wonte  ; 
Misericordia  et  Veritas  obviauerunt  sibi, 

lusticia  et  Pax  osculate  4  sunt.  191 

Et  hie  osculabunt  pariter  omnes. 

PATER,     ffrom  vs,  God,  au«gel  Gabryel,  thovi  xalt  be  sende 

Into  Me  countre  of  Galyle,  — 
The  name  of  Me  cyte  Nazareth  is  kende,  — 

1  H.  mad.  8  H.  salvation. 

2  MS.  fore  ;  corr.  by  H.  *  H.  osculatae. 


THE    SALUTATION    AND    CONCEPTION.  89 

To  a  mayd  ;  weddyd  to  a  man  is  she, 

Of  whom  Me  name  is  loseph,  se, 
Of  Me  hous  of  Davyd  bore. 

The  name  of  Me  mayd  ffre 
Is  Mary,  thai  xal  al  restore.  199 

FFILIUS.     Say  thai  she  is  wztA-owte  wo  and  ful  of  grace, 

And  that  I,  Me  Son  of  the  Godhed,  of  here  xal  be  bore. 
Hy^e  Me,  M0u  were  there  a-pace, 

Ellys  we  xal  be  there  the  be-ffore,1 

I  haue  so  grett  hast  to  be  man  thore 
In  that  mekest  and  purest  virgyne. 

Sey  here,  she  xal  restore 
Of  }ow  aungellys  Me  grett  ruyne.  207 

SPSXITUS  SAJVCTVS.     And  if  she  aske  Me  how  it  myth  be, 

Telle  here,  I,  Me  Holy  Cost,  xal  werke  al  this  ; 
Sche  xal  be  savyd  thorwe  cure  Vnyte. 

In  tokyn,  here  bareyn  cosyn  Ely^abeth  is 

Qwyk  wz't^!  childe  in  here  grett  age,  i-wys. 
Sey  here,  to  vs  is  no-thynge  impossyble. 

Here  body  xal  be  so  ful-fylt  wz't/z  blys 
That  she  xal  sone  thynke  Mis  sownde  credyble.  215 

GABRIEL.     In  thyn  hey  inbassett,2  Lord,  I  xal  go, 

It  xal  be  do  -with  a  thought  ; 
Be-holde  now,  Lord,  I  go  here  to, 

I  take  my  fflyth  8  andbyde  nowth.  219 

{Gabriel  descends  to  Mary.] 

Ave,  Maria,  gratia  plena,  Dominus  tecum! 
Heyl,  fful  of  grace,  God  is  with  the  ! 

Amonge  alk  women  blyssyd  art  thu  ! 
Here  Mis  name  Eva  is  turnyd  Ave  ; 

That  is  to  say,  w/t^-owte  sorwe  ar  ^e  now.  224 

Thow  sorwe  in  }ow  hath  no  place, 
3ett  of  ioy,  lady,  }e  nede  more  , 

i  H.  before.  2  H.  inbasset.  «  H.  flyth. 


90  HEGGE    PLAYS. 

Therfore  I  adde  and  sey  "  ful  of  grace," 

ffor  so  ful  of  grace  was  nevyr  non  bore. 

^ett  who  hath  grace,  he  nedyth  kepyng  sore  ; 
Therfore  I  sey  "  God  is  wz't/*  the," 

Whiche  xal  kepe  ^ow  endlesly  thore. 
So  amonge  alte  women  blyssyd  are  ^e.  232 

MARIA.     A  !  mercy,  God  !  Mis  is  a  mervelyous  herynge  ; 

In  Me  au«gelys  wordys  I  am  trobelyd  her; 
I  thynk,  'how  may  be  Mis  gretynge?' 

Aungelys  dayly  to  me  doth  aper, 

But  not  in  Me  lyknes  of  man  ;  tha\.  is  my  fer  ; 
And  also  thus  hy}ly  to  comendyd  be, 

And  am  most  vn-wurthy.1     I  can  not  answers  ; 
Grett  shamfastnes  and  grett  dred  is  in  me.  240 

GABRYEL.     Mary,  in  Mis  take  }e  no  drede, 

ffor  at  God  grace  ffownde  haue  }e, 
^e  xal  conceyve  in  jo«r  wombe,  indede, 

A  childe,  Me  sone  of  Me  Trynyte. 

His  name  of  }ow  leju  clepyd  xal  be  ; 
He  xal  be  grett,  Me  son  of  the  Hyest,  clepyd  of  kende  ; 

And  of  his  ffadyr  Davyd  the  Lord  xal  }eve  \\yrn  Me  se, 
Reynyng  in  Me  hous  of  lacob,  of  which^  regne  xal  be  non2 

ende.  248 

MARIA.     Aungel,  I  sey  to  $ow  : 

In  what  manere  of  wyse  xal  Mis  be? 
ffor  knowyng  of  man  I  haue  non  now  ; 

I  haue  evyr-mor*  kept,  and  xal,  my  virginyte. 

I  dowte  not  Me  wordys  36  hau[e]  8  seyd  to  me, 
But  I  aske  how4  it  xal  be  do. 

GABRYEL.     The  Holy  Cost  xal  come  fro  above  to  the, 
And  Me  vertu  of  hy»z  Hyest  xal  schadu  Me  so  ;  256 

1  H.  unwirthy.  8  H.  han. 

2  MS.  illegible.  -  H.  says  how  is  omitted  in  MS. 


THE  SALUTATION  AND  CONCEPTION.        9 1 

Therfore  that  Holy  Cost  of  Me  xal  be  bore, 

He  xal  be  clepyd  the.  Son  of  God  sage. 
And  se,  Ely^abeth,  jour  cosyn  thore, 

She  hath  conseyvid  a  son  in  hyre  age  ; 

This  is  the  sexte  monyth  of  here  passage,  — 
Of  here  thai  clepyd  was  bareyn  ; 

No-thynge  is  i»zpossyble  to  Goddys  vsage. 
They  thynkyth  longe  to  here  what  36  wyl  seyn.  264 

ffere  th/?  aungel  makyth  a  lytyl  restynge,  and  Mary  be-holdyth  hym.,  and 
th?  aungel  seythe : 

Mary,  com  of  and  haste  the, 

And  take  hede  in  thyn  entent 
How 1  the  Holy  Gost,  —  blyssyd  he  be  !  — 

A-bydyth  Min  answere  and  thin  assent. 
Thorwe  wyse  werke  of  dyvinyte 

The  Secunde  P^rsone,  verament, 
Is  mad  man  by  fratirnyte  z 

WYt^-inne  Mi-self,  in  place  present.  272 

fferther-more,  take  hede  this  space 

How 1  all<?  the  blyssyd  spyrytys  of  vertu 
That  are  in  hefne  by-ffore  Goddys  face, 

And  alle  the  gode  levers  and  trew 
That  are  here  in  Mis  erthely  place, 

Thyn  owyn  kynrede  —  Me  sothe  ho  knew,  — 
And  Me  chosyn  sowlys  Mis  tyme  of  grace 

Thai  are  in  helle  and  byde  ther  rescu,  280 

As  Adam,  Abraham  and  Davyd,  in-fere, 

And  many  othere  of  good  reputac/on, 
Thai  Min  answere  desyre  to  here 

And  Min  assent  to  Me  Incarnac/bn, 
In  whichi?  M<m  standyst  as  preserver,8 

Of  alk?  man-kende  savaczbn. 

l  MS.  H.  Whow.         2  H.  fraternyte.         3  MS.  persevere. 


92  HEGGE    PLAYS. 

Gyff  me  myn  answers  now,  lady  derc, 

To  alk  these  creature  comfortac/on.  288 

MARIA.     WitA  alk  mekenes  I  clyne  to  this  a-corde, 

Bowynge  down  my  face  with  alk  benyngnyte. 
Se  hen?  the  hand-mayden  of  our<?  Lorde  ; 

Aftyr  thi  worde  be  it  don  to  me  ! 

GABRYEL.     Gramercy,  my  lady  ffre  ! 
Gramercy  of  your  answers  on  hyght ! 

Gramercy  of  your  grett  humylyte  ! 
Gramercy,  36  lanterne  off l  lyght !  296 

ffere  the  Holy  Gost  discendit  with  iij  bemys  to  O\a  Lady,  the  Sene  of 
the  Godhed  next 2  with  iij  bemys  to  the  Holy  Gost,  the  Fadyr  Godly 
•unfti  iij  bemys  to  the  Sone ;  and  so  entre  alfe  thre  to  hers  bosom ;  and 
Mary  seyth : 

MARIA.     A  !  now  I  ffele  in  my  body  be 

Parfyte  God  and  parfyte  man, 
Havyng  al  8  schapp<?  of  chyldly  carnalyte. 

Evyn  al  at  onys,  thus  God  be-gan  ;  300 

Nott  takynge  ffyrst  o  membyr  and  sythe  a-nother, 

But  parfyte  childhod  y&  haue  anon. 
Of  jour  hand-mayden  now  ye  haue  mad  your  modyr, 

Wz't^-owte  peyne,  in  fflesche  and  bon. 

Thus  conceyved  nevyr  woman  non 
That  evyr  was  beynge  in  this  lyff  ; 

O  my«  hyest  ffadyr,  in  your  tron^, 
It  is  worthy,  your  Son  —  now  my  son  —  haue  a  pmxigatyff  !  308 

1  can  not  telle  what  ioy,  what  biysse, 

Now  I  fele  in  my  body. 
Aungel  Gabryel,  I  thank  }ow  for  thys  ; 

Most  mekely  recomende  me  to  my  Faderar  mercy  ! 

To  haue  be  the.  modyr  of  God  fful  lytyl  wend  I. 
Now  my«  cosyn  Ely^abeth  ffayn  wold  I  se, 

Now  sche  hath  conseyvid  as  je  dede  specyfy. 
Now  blyssyd  be  the  hy$  Trynyte  !  316 

1  H.  of.  2  MS.  nest ;  H.  vest.  8  H.  alle. 


THE  SALUTATION  AND  CONCEPTION.        93 

GABRYEL.     ffan?-weyl,  turtyl,  Goddys  dowten?  den? ! 

ffare-wel,  Goddys  modyr,  I  the  honowre ! 
ffar^-wel,  Goddys  sustyr  and  his  pleynge  fere  ! 

ffar<?-wel  Goddys  chawmere  and  his  bowr* !  320 

MARIA,     ffare-wel,  Gabryel,  specyalye  ! 

ffare-wel,  Goddys  masangen?  expresse  ! 
I  thank  ^ow  for  $our  traveyl  hye  ; 

Gramercy  of  jour  grett  goodnes,  324 

And  namely  of  your  comfortabyl  massage  ! 

ffor  I  vndyrstande,  by  inspyraczbn, 
Thai  36  knowe  by  syngulen?  pr^vylage 

Most  of  my  sonys  Incarnaczbn. 
I  pray  }ow  take  it  in-to  vsage, 

Be  a-custom  ocupaczbn, 
To  vesyte  me  ofte  be  mene  passage  ; 

$our  presence  is  my  comfortaczon.  332 

GABRIEL.     At  your  wyl,  lady,  so  xal  it  be. 

3e  gentyllest  of  blood  and  hyest  of  kynrede 
Thai  reynyth  in  erth  in  ony  degre, 

Be  pryncypal  incheson  of  the  Godhede,  336 

I  comende  me  on-to  3ow,  tho\i  trone  of  the  Trinyte, 

O  mekest  mayde,  now  the.  modyr  of  leju  ; 
Qwen  of  hefne,  lady  of  erth,  and  empres  of  helle  be  36  ; 

Socour  to  alk  synful  thai  wole  to  3ow  sew  ; 

Tho«r 1  your  body  beryth  the  babe  2  our<?  blysse  xal  renew  : 
To  3ow,  modyr  of  mercy,  most  mekely  I  recomende,8 

And,  as  I  began,  I  ende,  with  an  "  Ave  !,"  new, 
Enionyd  4  hefne  and  erth  ;  vfiih  thai  I  ascende.  344 

Aue,  Maria,  gr&iia  plena  !         ) 

.  .   f  A  ngzli  cantando  istam  sequenciam. 

Dommus  tecum,  utrgo  serena  !  °  ) 

1  H.  Thoro. 

2  Qy.  Thour  the  babe  your  body  beryth ;  but  Kittredge  assumes  ellipsis  of 
that  after  body,  wliiih  seems  better. 

8  Qy.  me  comende.  4  H.  Enjoynd.  5  MS.  fefena. 


TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 


For  information  as  to  the  text,  see  above,  p.  13.  The  notes  marked  K.  are  from 
Kolbing's  papers  in  Englische  Studien,  XVI,  278  ff.  and  XXI,  162  ff. 

This  play  is  preceded  in  the  MS.  by  another  on  the  same  subject,  which  was  per- 
haps played  in  alternation  with  this.  At  the  end  of  the  first  the  MS.  has  "  Explicit 
Vna  pagina  pastorom"  followed  by  "  Incipit  A  lia  eoruadem." 


[THE  SECOND  SHEPHERDS'  PLAY.] 

[Enter  First  Shepherd  alone,'] 

I.1  PASTOR.     Lord,  what !  these  weders  ar  cold  !  /  and  I  am 

yll  happyd  ; 

I  am  nere-hande  dold,  /  so  long  haue  I  nappyd  ; 
My  legys  thay  fold,  /  my  fyngers  ar  chappyd  ; 
It  is  not  as  I  wold,  /  for  I  am  al  lappyd 

In  sorow, 

In  stormes  and  tempest, 
Now  in  the  eest,  now  in  the  west. 
Wo  is  hym  has  neu^r  rest 

Myd-day  nor  morow  !  g 

Bot  we  sely  shepardes  *  /  that  walkys  on  the  moore, 
In  fayth,  we  are  nere-handyj  /  8  outt  of  the  doore  ; 
No  wonder,  as  it  standys,  /  if  we  be  poore, 
ffor  the  tylthe  of  oure  landy^  /  lyys  falow  as  the  floore, 
As  ye  ken. 

1  MS.  Primus ;  similarly  below. 
*  Qy.  husbandys ;  cf.  22. 
8  K.  inserts  ay. 


THE    SECOND    SHEPHERDS'    PLAY.  95 

We  ar  so  hamyd, 
ffor-taxed  and  ramyd, 
We  ar  mayde  hand-tamyd 

With  thyse  gentlery  men.  18 

Thus  thay  refe  vs  cure  reste,  /  Oure  Lady  theym  wary  ! 
These  men  that  ar  lord-fest/  thay  cause  the  ploghe  tary. 
That  men  say  is  for  the  best,  /  we  fynde  it  contrary  ; 
Thus  ar  husbandyj  opprest  /  in  po[i]nte  1  to  myscary 

On  lyfe. 

Thus  hold  thay  vs  hunder, 
Thus  thay  bryng  vs  in  blonder  ; 
It  were  greatte  wonder 

And  euer  shuld  we  thryfe.  27 

2  ffor  may  he  gett  a  paynt  slefe  /  or  a  broche  now  on  dayes, 
Wo  is  hym  that  hym  grefe  /  or  onys  agane  says  ! 
Dar  noman  hym  reprefe,  /  what  mastry  he  mays  ; 
And  yit  may  noman.  lefe  /  oone  word  that  he  says, 

No  letter. 

He  can  make  purveance, 
With  boste  and  bragance, 
And  all  is  thrugh  mantenance 

Of  men  that  are  gretter.  36 

Ther  shall  com  a  swane  /  as  prowde  as  a  po, 
He  must8  borow  my  wane,  /  my  ploghe  also  ; 
Then  I  am  full  fane  /  to  graunt  or  he  go. 
Thus  lyf  we  in  payne,  /  anger,  and  wo, 

By  nyght  and  day. 
He  must  haue  if  he  langyd, 
If  I  shuld  forgang  it ; 
I  were  better  be  hangyd 

Then  oones  say  hym  nay.  45 

1  E.  E.  T.  S. 

2  K.  -wishes  to  reverse  the  order  of  this  stanza  and  the  next. 
8  K.  wishes  to  read  will. 


96  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

It  dos  me  good,  as  I  walk  /  thus  by  myn  oone, 
Of  this  warld  for  to  talk  /  in  maner  of  mone. 
To  my  shepe  wyll  I  stalk  /  and  herkyn  anone  ; 
Ther  abyde  on  a  balk  /  or  sytt  on  a  stone 

ffull  soyne. 
ffor  I  trowe,  pmle, 
Trew  men  if  thay  be, 
We  gett  more  compane 

Or  it  be  noyne.  54 

[Enter  Second  Shepherd  soliloquizing^ 

II.  PAST<?/?.     Benste  and  Dommus  I/what  may  this  bemeyne  ? 
Why  fares  this  warld  thus  ?  /  Oft  haue  we  not  sene  ! 
Lord,  thyse  weders J  are  spytus  /  and  the  weders  full  kene  ; 
And  the  frosty.?  so  hydus  /  thay  water  myn  eeyne, 

Noly. 

Now  in  dry,  now  in  wete, 
Now  in  snaw,  now  in  slete  ; 
When  my  shone  freys  to  my  fete, 

It  is  not  all  esy.  63 

Bot  as  far  as  I  ken,  /  or  yit  as  I  go, 

We  sely  wedmen  /  dre  mekyll  wo  ; 

We  haue  sorow  then  and  then,  /  it  f  allys  oft  so. 

Sely  Capyle,  oure  hen,  /  both  to  and  fro 

She  kakyls  ; 
Bot  begyn  she  to  crok, 
To  groyne  or  [to  clo]k,2 
Wo  is  hym  is  of  8  oure  cok, 

ffor  he  is  in  the  shekyls.  72 

These  men  that  ar  wed  /  haue  not  all  thare  wyll ; 
When  they  ar  full  hard  sted,  /  thay  sygh  full  styll ; 
God  wayte  thay  ar  led  /  full  hard  and  full  yll ; 
In  bower  nor  in  bed  /  thay  say  noght  ther-tyll. 

1  Qy.  winters  for  this  weders,  or  windes  for  the  other;  cf.  1.  128. 
a  E.  E.  T.  S.  8  Qy,  omit  is  of. 


THE  SECOND  SHEPHERDS'  PLAY.          97 

This  tyde, 

My  parte  haue  I  fun, 
I  know  my  lesson. 
Wo  is  hym  that  is  bun, 

ffor  he  must  abyde.  81 

Bot  now  late  in  oure  lyfys  —  /a  mmiell  to  me, 
That  I  thynk  my  hart  ryfys  /  sich  wonders  to  see ; 
What  that  destany  dryfys,  /  it  shuld  so  be  !  — 
Som  men  wyll  have  two  wyfys,  /  and  som  men  thre, 

In  store  ; 

Som  ar  wo  that  has  any  ; 
Bot  so  far  can  I, 
Wo  is  hym  that  has  many, 

ffor  he  felys  sore.  90 

Bot,  yong  men,  of  wowyng,1  /  for  God  that  you  boght, 
Be  well  war  of  wedyng  /  and  thynk  in  youre  thoght : 
"  Had  I  wyst"  is  a  thyng  /it  seruys  of  noght. 
Mekyll  styll  mowrnyng  /  has  wedyng  home  broght, 

And  grefys, 

With  many  a  sharp  showre  ; 
ffor  thou  may  each  in  an  owre 
That  shall  [savour]  2  fulle  sowre 

As  long  as  thou  lyffys.  99 

ffor,  as  euer  red  I  pystyll,  /  I  haue  oone  to  my  fere, 

As  sharp  as  a  thystyll,  /  as  rugh  as  a  brere  ; 

She  is  browyd  lyke  a  brystyll,  /  wz't^  a  sowre-loten  chere  ; 

Had  she  oones  wett  hyr  whystyll,  /  she  couth  syng  full  clere 

Hyr  pater  noster. 
She  is  as  greatt  as  a  whall ; 
She  has  a  galon  of  gall ; 
By  hym  that  dyed  for  vs  all, 

I  wald  I  had  ryn  to  I  had  lost  hir.  108 

1  But  Kittredge  suggests  that  it  is  equivalent  to  yong  men  a-wowyng. 

2  The  word  in  brackets  is  illegible  in  the  MS  ;  supplied  by  E.  E.  T.  S. 


98  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

I.  PASTOR.     God  looke  oner  the  raw  !  /  ffull  defly  ye  stand. 

ii.  PASTOR.     Yee,  the  dewill  in  thi  maw,  /  so  tariand  ! 

Sagh  thou  awro  of  Daw?  / 

I.  PASTOR.  Yee,  on  a  ley-land 

Hard  I  hym  blaw  ;  /  he  coz#mys  here  at  hand, 

Not  far  ; 
Stand  styll. 
ii.  PASTOR.     Qwhy? 
i.  PASTOR,     ffor  he  commys,  hope  I. 
ii.  PASTOR.     He  wyll  make  vs  both  a  ly 

Bot  if  we  be  war.  117 

{Enter  Third  Shepherd  soliloquizing, .] 

ill.  PASTOR.     Crystys  crosse  me  spede  /  and  Sant  Nycholas  ! 
Ther-of  had  I  nede,  /  it  is  wars  then  it  was. 
Whoso  couthe  take  hede  /  and  lett  the  warld  pas, 
It  is  euer  in  drede  /  and  brekyll  as  glas, 

And  slythys. 

This  warld  fowre  neuer  so, 
Wz't^  meruels  mo  and  mo, 
Now  in  weyll,  now  in  wo, 

And  all  thyng  wrythys.  126 

Was  neu^r  syn  Noe  floode  /  sich  fioodys  seyn, 
Wyndyj-  and  ranys  so  rude  /  and  stormes  so  keyn  ; 
Som  stamerd,  som  stod,  /  in  dowte,  as  I  weyn  ; 
Now  God  turne  all  to  good  !  /  I  say  as  I  mene, 

ffor  ponder : 

These  fioodys  so  thay  drowne, 
Both  in  teyldys  and  in  towne, 
And  berys  all  downe, 

And  that  is  a  wonder.  135 

We  that  walk  on  the  nyghtys  /  oure  catell  to  kepe, 
We  se  sodan  syghtyj  /  when  othere  men  slepe.1 
Yit  me  thynk  my  hart  lyghtyj  ;  /  I  se  shrewys  pepe. 

1  Originally  slepys ;  altered  in  red  ink. 


THE  SECOND  SHEPHERDS  PLAY.          99 

Ye  ar  two  all l  wyghty-r  ;  /  I  wyll  gyf  my  shepe 

A  turne. 

Bot  full  yll  haue  I  ment ; 
As  I  walk  on  this  bent, 
I  may  lyghtly  repent, 

My  toes  if  I  spurne.  144 

A,  sir,  God  you  saue,  /  and  master  myne  ! 

A  drynk  fayn  wold  I  haue  /  and  somwhat  to  dyne. 

I.  PASTOff.     Crystyj    curs,    my  knaue,  /  thou    art   a   ledyr 

hyne  ! 

II.  PASTOR.     What !  the  boy  lyst  rave  ?  /  Abyde  vnto  syne  ; 

We  haue  mayde  it. 
Yll  thryft  on  thy  pate  ! 
Though  the  shrew  cam  late, 
Yit  is  he  in  state 

To  dyne,  if  he  had  it.  153 

in.  PASTOS.     Sich  seruandys  as  I,  /  that  swettys  and  swynkys, 
Etys  oure  brede  full  dry,  /  and  that  me  forthynkys  ; 
We  ar  oft  weytt  and  wery  /  when  master-men  wynkys  ; 
Yit  coz«mys  full  lately  /  both  dyners  and  drynkys. 

Bot  nately 

Both  oure  dame  and  oure  syre, 
When  we  haue  ryn  in  the  myre, 
Thay  can  nyp  at  oure  hyre, 

And  pay  vs  full  lately.  162 

Bot  here  my  trouth,  master,  /  for  the  fayr  that  ye  make, 

I  shall  do  therafter,  —  /  wyrk  as  I  take  ; 

I  shall  do  a  lytyll,  s/r,  /  and  emang  tuer  lake  ; 

ffor  yit  lay  my  soper  /  neu^r  on  my  stomake 

In  feyldys. 

Wherto  shuld  I  threpe  ? 
Wz't^  my  staf  can  I  lepe, 
And  men  say  "  Lyght  chepe 

Letherly  for-yeldys."  17! 

1  Kittredge  suggests  talL 


IOO  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

I.  PASTOR.     Thou  were  an  yll  lad  /   to  ryde  on  wowyng 
Wit/i  a  man  that  had  /  hot  lytyll  of  spendyng. 
n.  PASTOR.     Peasse,  boy,  I  bad  ;  /  no  more  iangling, 
Or  I  shall  make  the  full  rad,  /  by  the  heuens  1  kyng  ! 

Vfiih  thy  gawdys. 

Wher  ar  oure  shepe,  boy  ?    We  skorne. 
in.  PASTOR.     Sir,  this  same  day  at  morne 
I  thaym  left  in  the  corne, 

When  thay  rang  lawdys  ;  180 

Thay  haue  pasture  good,  /  thay  can  not  go  wrong. 

I.  PASTOR.    That  is  right.    By  the  roode  !  /  thyse  nyghtys  ar  long  ! 
Yit  I  wold,  or  we  yode,  /  oone  gaf  vs  a  song. 

II.  PASTOR.     So  I  thoght  as  I  stode,  /  to  myrth  vs  emong. 

in.  PASTOR.     I  grauntt. 

I.  PASTOR.     Lett  me  syng  the  tenory. 

II.  PASTOR.     And  I  the  tryble  so  hye. 

in.  PASTOR.     Then  the  meyne  fallys  to  me ; 

Lett  se  how  ye  chauntt.2  189 

TUHC  intrat  Mak,  in  clamide  se  super  togma  vestitus. 

MAK.     Now,  Lord,  for  thy  naymes  sevyn,8/that  made  both 

moyn  &  starnes 

Well  mo  then  I  can  neuen,  /  thi  will,  Lorde,  of  me  tharnys  ; 
I  am  all  vneuen  ;  /  that  moves  oft  my  harnes. 
Now  wold  God  I  were  in  heuen,  /  for  there  4  wepe  no  barnes 

So  styll. 

i.  PASTOR.    Who  is  that,  pypys  so  poore  ? 
MAK.     Wold  God  ye  wyst  how  I  foore  ! 
Lo,  a  man  that  \valkys  on  the  moore, 

And  has  not  all  his  wyll !  198 

II.  PASTOR.     Mak,  where  has  thou  gon  5  ?  /  tell  vs  tythyng. 
in.  PASTOR.     Is  he  cowmen?  Then  ylkon/  take  hede  to  his 
thyng. 

IE.  E.  T.  S.  heuen's. 

3  The  song  -was  probably  sung;  but  it  is  not  given  in  the  MS. 

»  MS.  vij.  *  MS.  the.  5  MS.  gom. 


THE  SECOND  SHEPHERDS'  PLAY.         IOI 


Et  accijfo.  clamidem  ai>  ifso. 

MAK.     What !  ich  be  a  yoman,  /  I  tell  you,  of  the  king; 
The  self  and  the  same,  /  sond  from  a  greatt  lordyng, 

And  sich. 

ffy  on  you  !  goyth  hence 
Out  of  my  presence  ! 
I  must  haue  reuerence  ; 

Why,  who  be  ich  ?  207 

I.  PASTOR.     Why   make    ye  it  so  qwaynt?     Mak,  ye    do 

wrang. 

II.  PASTOff.     Bot,  Mak,  lyst  ye  saynt  ?  /  I  trow  that  ye  lang. 
in.  PASTOR.     I  trow  the  shrew  can  paynt,  /  the  dewyll  myght 

hyw  hang ! 
MAK.     Ich   shall  make  complaynt  /  and  make   you  all  to 

thwang 
At  a  worde, 

And  tell  euyn  how  ye  doth. 
I,  PASTOff.     Bot,  Mak,  is  that  sothe? 
Now  take  outt  that  sothren  tothe, 

And  sett  in  a  torde  !  216 

n.  PASTOR.     Mak,  the  dewill  in  youre  ee  !  /  a  stroke  wold  I 

leyne  you. 
HI.  PASTOR.     Mak,  know  ye   not  me? /by  God,  I   couthe 

teyn    you. 

MAK.     God  looke  you  all  thre  !  /  me  thoght  I  had  sene  you,  — 
Ye  ar  a  fare  compane.  / 
I.  PASTOS.  Can  ye  now  mene  you  ? 

n.  PASTOX.     Shrew,  iape  ! 
Thus  late  as  thou  goys, 
What  wyll  men  suppos  ? 
And  thou  has  an  yll  noys 

Of  stelyng  of  shepe.  225 

1  MS.  teyle  ;  but  the  letters  le  have  been  -written  over  the  original  by  a 
later  hand. 


IO2  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

MAK.     And  I  am  trew  as  steyll,  /  all  men  waytt ! 

Bot  a  sekenes  I  feyll  /  that  haldyj  me  full  haytt, 

My  belly  farys  not  weyll,  /  it  is  out  of  astate. 

in.  PASTOR.     Seldom  lyys  the  dewyll  /  dede  by  the  gate. 

MAK.     Therfor 
ffull  sore  am  I  and  yll 
If  I  stande  stone  styll ; 
I  ete  not  an  nedyll 

Thys  moneth  and  more.  234 

I.  PASTOX.     How  farys  thi  wyff  ?  by  my  hoode,  /  how  farys 

sho? 

MAK.     Lyys  walteryng,  by  the  roode,  /  by  the  fyere,  lo  ! 
And  a  howse  full  of  brude  /  she  drynkys  well  to  ; 
Yll  spede  othere  good  /  that  she  wyll  do 

Bot  so  ! 

Etys  as  fast  as  she  can, 
And  ilk  yere  that  commys  to  man 
She  bryngys  furth  a  lakan, 

And  som  yeres  two.  243 

Bot  were  I  not  more  gracyus  /  and  rychere  be  far,1 
I  were  eten  outt  of  howse  /  and  of  harbar  ; 
Yit  is  she  a  fowll  dowse  /  if  ye  com  nar  ; 
Ther  is  none  that  trowse  /  nor  knowys  a  war 

Then  ken  I. 

Now  wyll  ye  se  what  I  profer  ?  — 
To  gyf  all  in  my  cofer 
To-morne  at  next  to  offer 

Hyr  hed-mas  pe«ny.  252 

II.  PASTOR.     I  wote  so  forwakyd  /  is  none  in  this  shyre  : 
I  wold  slepe,  if  I  takyd  /  les  to  my  hyere. 

in.  PASTOK.     I  am  cold  and  nakyd  /  and  wold  haue  a  fyere. 
i.  PASTOR.     I  am  wery  for-rakyd,  /  and  run  in  the  myre. 
Wake  thou  ! 

l  E.  E.  T.  S.  befar. 


THE    SECOND    SHEPHERDS*    PLAY.  IO3 

II.  PAST  ox.     Nay,  I  wyll  lyg  downe  by, 

ffor  I  must  slepe  truly. 

in.  PASTO/?.     As  good  a  mans  l  son  was  I 

As  any  of  you.  261 

Bot,  Mak,  com  heder  I  betwene  /  shall  thou  lyg  downe. 
MAK.     Then  myght   I   lett  you,  bedene,  /  of   that  ye  wold 
rowne,2 

No  drede. 

ff ro  my  top  to  my  too, 
Manus  tuas  commendo, 
Poncio  Pilato, 

Cryst  crosse  me  spede  !  268 

Tune  surgit,  pastor ibus  dormienfibvLS,  et  elicit : 

Now  were  tyme  for  a  man  /  that  lakkys  what  he  wold  8 

To  stalk  pr^uely  than  /  vnto  a  fold 

And  neemly  to  wyrk  than  /  and  be  not  to  bold, 

ffor  he  might  aby  the  bargan,  /  if  it  were  told, 

At  the  endyng. 
Now  were  tyme  for  to  reyll ; 
Bot  he  nedys  good  counsell 
That  fayn  wold  fare  weyll, 

And  has  bot  lytyll  spendyng.  277 

Bot  abowte  you  a  serkyll  /  as  rownde  as  a  moyn,4 
To  I  haue  done  that  I  wyll,  /  tyll  that  it  be  noyn, 
That  ye  lyg  stone  styll  /  to  that  I  haue  doyne, 
And  I  shall  say  thertyll  /  of  good  wordjs  a  foyne 
On  hight : 

1  E.  E.  T.  S.  man's. 

2  E.  E.  T.  S.  notes  that  two  lines  are  missing  and  refers  to  a  similar 
stanza  (No.  15)  in  the  first  Shepherds'  Play.     In  both  cases  lines  have  been 
lost,  I  think. 

8  From  this  point  on,  Pollard's  numbering  is  1 1  ahead  of  E.  E.  T.  S., 
possibly  because  he  miscounted  the  stanzas  by  one  and  did  not  notice  that 
the  immediately  preceding  stanza  contains  only  7  lines. 

*  K.  corrects  the  spelling  of  these  four  rhyme-words  by  omitting  y. 


IO4  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

Ouer  youre  heydy-r  my  hand  I  lyft, 
Outt  go  youre  een,  fordo  your  syght ;  — 
Bot  yit  I  must  make  better  shyft 

And  it  be  right.  286 

Lord,  what  !  thay  slepe  hard  !  /  that  may  ye  all  here. 

Was  I  neuer  a  shepard,  /  hot  now  wyll  I  lere  ; 

If  the  flok  be  skard,  /  yit  shall  I  nyp  nere. 

How  !  drawes  hederward  !  /  Now  mendys  oure  chere 

ffrom 1  sorow. 
A  fatt  shepe  I  dar  say  ! 
A  good  flese  dar  I  lay  ! 
Eft-whyte  when  I  may, 

Bot  this  will  I  borOW.  \Makgoes  home.']    2€)$ 

How,  Gyll,  art  thou  in  ?  /  gett  vs  som  lyght. 

VXOR  EIUS.     Who  makys  sich  dyn  /  this  tyme  of  the  nyght? 

I  am  sett  for  to  spyn  ;  /  I  hope  not  I  myght 

Ryse  a  penny  to  wyn.  /  I  shrew  them  on  hight 

So  farys  ! 

A  huswyff  that  has  bene 
To  be  rasyd  thus  betwene  ! 
Here  may  no  note  be  sene 

ffor  sich  small  charys.  304 

MAK.     Good  wyff,  open  the  hek  !  /  seys  thou  not  what  I 

bryng  ? 
VXOR.     I   may  thole   the  dray  the  snek.  /  A,  com  in,  my 

swetyng  ! 

MAK.     Yee,  thou  thar  not  rek  /  of  my  long  standyng. 
VXOR.     By  the  nakyd  nek  /  art  thou  lyke  for  to  hyng. 

MAK.     Do  way  ; 
I  am  worthy  my  mete, 
ffor  in  a  strate  can  I  gett 
More  then  thay  that  swynke  and  swette 

All  the  long  day.  313 

l  MS.  ffron. 


THE   SECOND    SHEPHERDS*    PLAY.  1 05 

[He  shows  her  the  sheep.] 

Thus  it  fell  to  my  lott,  /  Gyll,  I  had  sich  grace. 
VXOR.     It  were  a  fowll  blott  /  to  be  hanged  for  the  case. 
MAK.     I  haue  skapyd,  lelott,  /  oft  as  hard  a  glase. 
VXOR.     Bot  so  long  goys  the  pott  /  to  the  water,  men  says, 

At  last 

Comys  it  home  broken. 
MAK.     Well  knowe  I  the  token, 
Bot  let  it  neu^r  be  spoken  ; 

Bot  com  and  help  fast.  322 

I  wold  he  were  slayn,  /  I  lyst  well  etc  ; 
This  twelmo[n]the 1  was  I  not  so  fayn  /  of  oone  shepe  mete. 
VXOR.     Com  thay  or  he  be  slayn  /  and  here  the  shepe  blete — 
MAK.     Then  myght  I  be  tane  ;  /  that  were  a  cold  swette  ! 

Go  spar 

The  gaytt  doore. 
VXOR.  Yis,  Mak, 

ffor  and  thay  com  at  thy  bak  — 
MAK.     Then  myght  I  by,  for  all  the  pak, 

The  dewill  of  the  war.  331 

VXOR.     A  good  bowrde  haue  I  spied,  /  syn  thou  can  none  ; 

Here  shall  we  hym  hyde  /  to  thay  be  gone,  — 

In  my  credyll  abyde,  —  /  lett  me  alone, 

And  I  shall  lyg  besyde  /  in  chylbed,  and  grone. 

MAK.     Thou  red  ; 
And  I  shall  say  thou  was  lyght 
Of  a  knaue  childe  this  nyght. 
VXOR.     Now  well  is  me  day  bright, 

That  euer  was  I  bred  !  340 

This  is  a  good  gyse  /  and  a  far  cast ; 
Yit  a  woman  avyse  /  helpys  at  the  last ! 
I  wote  neuer  who  spyse  :  /  agane  go  thou  fast. 
MAK.     Bot  I  com  or  thay  ryse,  /  els  blawes  a  cold  blast ! 
I  wyll  go  slepe. 

1  Corr.  by  K. 


IO6  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

\_Mak  returns  to  the  shepherds,  and  resumes  his  place.'] 

Yit  slepys  all  this  meneye, 
And  I  shall  go  stalk  pr^uely, 
As  it  had  neu^r  bene  I 

That  caryed  thare  shepe.  {Sleeps.}  349 

I.  PASTOR.     Resurrex  a  mortru\s  !  /  Haue  hald  my  hand. 
ludas  carnas  dom'mus  \  /  I  may  not  well  stand  : 
My  foytt  slepys,  by  Ihesus,1  /  and  I  water  fastand. 
I  thoght  that  we  layd  vs  /  full  nere  Yngland. 

n.  PASTO/?.     A  ye  ! 
Lord,  what !  I  haue  slept  weyll ; 
As  fresh  as  an  eyll, 
As  lyght  I  me  feyll 

As  leyfe  on  a  tre.  358 

in.  PASTOR.     Benste  be  here-in  !  /  so  my  [body]  2 

qwakys, 

My  hart  is  outt  of  skyn,  /  what -so  it  makys. 
Who  makys  all  this  dyn  ?  /  So  my  browes  blakys. 
To  the  do  wore  wyll  I  wyn.  /  Harke  felows,  wakys  ! 

We  were  fowre  : 
Se  ye  awre  of  Mak  now? 
I.  PASTOR.     We  were  vp  or  thou. 
ii.  PASTOR.     Man,  I  gyf  God  a-vowe, 

Yit  yede  he  nawre.  367 

in.  PASTOS.     Me  thoght  he  was  lapt  /  in  a  wolfe  skyn. 

I.  PASTOR.     So  are  many  hapt  /  now,  namely  within. 

in.  PASTOff.8     When  we  had  long  napt,  /  me  thoght  vtiih 

agyn 
A  fatt  shepe  he  trapt  /  bot  he  mayde  no  dyn. 

n.  PASTOR.*     Be  styll ; 
Thi  dreme  makys  the  woode  ; 
It  is  bot  fantom,  by  the  roode. 
i.  PASTOX.     Now  God  turne  all  to  good, 

If  it  be  his  wyll !  376 

l  MS.  ihc.  »  Kittredge;  E.  E.  T.  S.  [hart?]. 

«  E.  E.  T.  S.    ii.  PASTOR.  *  E.  E.  T.  S.    in.  PASTOR. 


THE    SECOND    SHEPHERDS*    PLAY.  IO/ 

II.  PASTOR.     Ryse,  Mak  ;  for  shame  !  /  thou  \Jgys  right 

lang. 

MAK.     Now  Crystyj  holy  name  /  be  vs  emang  ! 
What  is  this,  for  Sant  lame?  /  I  may  not  well  gang  ! 
I  trow  I  be  the  same.  /  A  !  my  nek  has  lygen  wrang 

Enoghe, 

Mekill  thank  !  syn  yister  euen. 
Now,  by  Sant  Strevyn, 
I  was  flayd  wz'tA  a  swevyn, 

My  hart  out  of-sloghe  :  385 

I  thoght  Gyll  began  to  crok  /  and  trauell  full  sad, 
Welner  at  the  fyrst  cok,  /  of  a  yong  lad 
ffor  to  mend  cure  flok.  /  Then  be  I  neuer  glad  ; 
I  haue  tow  on  my  rok  /  more  then  euer  1  had. 

A,  my  heede  ! 

A  house  full  of  yong  tharnes,1 
The  dewill  knok  outt  thare  harnes  ! 
Wo  is  hym  has  many  barnes, 

And  therto  lytyll  brede  !  394 

I  must  go  home,  by  youre  lefe,  /  to  Gyll,  as  I  thoght. 
I  pray  you  looke  my  slefe  /  that  I  steyll  noght ; 
I  am  loth  you  to  grefe  /  or  from  you  take  oght.  \_Exit.} 

in.  PASTOR.      Go  furth,  yll  myght  thou  chefe  !  /  Now  wold 
I  we  soght, 

This  morne, 

That  we  had  all  oure  store. 
I.  PASTOR.     Bot  I  will  go  before  ; 
Let  vs  mete, 
n.  PASTOR.     Whore? 

in.  PASTOR.     At  the  crokyd  thorne.  403 

MAK.     Vndo  this  doore  !   who  is  here  ?  /  how  long  shall  I 

stand  ? 
VXOR  EIUS.     Who  makys  sich   a  bere  ?  /  now  walk  in   the 

wenyand ! 

l  E.  E.  T.  S.  tharmes. 


IO8  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

MAK.     A,  Gyll,  what  chere  ?  /  it  is  I,  Mak,  youre  husbande. 
VXOR.     Then  may  we  se  1  here  /  the  dewill  in  a  bande, 

Syr  Gyle  ; 

Lo,  he  commys  wz't^  a  lote 
As  he  were  holden  in  the  throte. 
I  may  not  syt  at  my  note 

A  hand-lang  while.  412 

MAK.     Wyll  ye  here  what  fare  she  makys  /  to  gett  hir  a 

glose  ? 

And  dos  noght  bot  lakys  /  and  clowse  hir  toose. 
VXOR.     Why,  who  wanders,  who  wakys,  /  who  cowmys,  who 

gose? 
Who  brewys,  who  bakys  ?  /  what  makys  me  thus  hose  ? 

And  than, 

It  is  rewthe  to  beholde, 
Now  in  hote,  now  in  colde. 
ffull  wofull  is  the  householde 

That  vfantys  a  woman.  421 

Bot  what  ende  has  thou  mayde  /  w/tA  the  hyrdys,  Mak? 
MAK.     The  last  worde  that  thay  sayde  /  when  I  turnyd  my 

bak, 

Thay  wold  looke  that  thay  hade  /  thare  shepe  all  the  pak. 
I  hope  thay  wyll  nott  be  well  payde  /  when  thay  thare  shepe 
lak, 

Perde. 

Bot  how-so  the  gam  gose, 
To  me  thay  wyll  suppose, 
And  make  a  fowll  noyse, 

And  cry  outt  apon  me.  430 

Bot  thou  must  do  as  thou  hyght.  / 

VXOR.  I  accorde  me  thertyll, 

I  shall  swedyll  hym  right  /  in  my  credyll. 

If  it  were  a  gretter  slyght,  /  yit  couthe  I  help  tyll. 

I  wyll  lyg  downe  stright ;  /  com'  hap  me. 

1  E.  E.  T.  S.  be ;  emend,  by  Kittredge. 


THE  SECOND  SHEPHERDS'  PLAY. 

MAK.  I  wyll. 

VXOR.     Behynde  ! 
Com  Coll  and  his  maroo, 
Thay  will  nyp  vs  full  naroo. 
MAK.     Bot  I  may  cry  out  haroo, 

The  shepe  if  thay  fynde.  439 

VXOR.     Harken  ay  when  thay  call  ;  /  thay  will  com  onone. 
Com  and  make  redy  all  /  and  syng  by  thyn  oone  ; 
Syng  lullay  thou  shall,  /  for  I  must  grone 
And  cry  outt  by  the  wall  /  on  Mary  and  lohn, 

ffor  sore. 

Syng  lullay  on  fast 
When  thou  heris  at  the  last  ; 
And  bot  I  play  a  fals  cast, 

Trust  me  no  more.  448 

ill.  PASTOR.     A,  Coll,  good  morne  !  /  Why  slepys  thou  nott  ? 
I.  PASTOR.     Alas,  that  euer  was  I  borne  !  /  we  haue  a  fowll 

blott. 

A  fat  wedir  haue  we  lorne.  / 
in.  PASTOR.  Mary,  Godys  forbott ! 

ii.    PASTOR.     Who  shuld  do  vs  that  skorne?/ that  were  a 
fowll  spott. 

I.  PASTOR.     Som  shrewe. 
I  haue  soght  w/tA  my  dog/J 
All  Horbery  Shrogyj, 
And  of  fefteyn  l  hogys 

ffond  I  bot  oone  ewe.  457 

in.  PASTOR.     Now  trow  me,  if  ye  will ;  /  by  Sant  Thomas 

of  Kent, 

Ayther  Mak  or  Gyll  /  was  at  that  assent. 
I.  PASTOR.     Peasse,  man,  be  still  !  /  I  sagh  when  he  went ; 
Thou  sklanders  hym  yll ;  /  thou  aght  to  repent 
Goode  spede. 

i  MS.  XT. 


IIO  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

ii.  PASTOR.     Now  as  eu<?r  myght  I  the, 
If  I  shuld  euyn  here  de, 
I  wold  say  it  were  he 

That  dyd  that  same  dede.  466 

in.  PASTOR.     Go  we  thed^r,  I  rede,  /  and  ryn  on  oure  feete. 
Shall  I  neuer  ete  brede  /  the  sothe  to  I  wytt. 
I.  PASTOR.     Nor  drynk  in  my  heede  /  with  hym  tyll  I  mete, 
n.  PASTOR.     I  wyll  rest  in  no  stede/  tyll  that  I  hym  grete, 

My  brothere. 
Gone  I  will  hight  : 
Tyll  I  se  hym  in  sight 
Shall  I  neuer  slepe  one  nyght 

Ther  I  do  anothere.  475 

in.  PASTOR.     Will  ye  here  how  thay  hale? /Oure  syre  lyst 

croyne. 

I.  PASTOR.     Hard  I  neu^r  none  crak  /  so  clere  out  of  toyne  ; 
Call  on  hym. 

n.  PASTOR.     Mak  !  /  vndo  youre  doore  soyne. 
MAK.     Who  is  that  spak  /  as  it  were  noyne 

On  loft  ? 

Who  is  that  ?    I  say. 

in.  PASTOR.     Goode  felowse,  were  it  day. 
MAK.     As  far  as  ye  may, 

Good,  spekyj  soft,  484 

Ouer  a  seke  womans  1  heede  /  that  is  at  mayll-easse  ; 
I  had  leuer  be  dede  /  or  she  had  any  dyseasse. 
VXOR.     Go  to  an  othere  stede,  /  I  may  not  well  qweasse. 
Ich  fote  that  ye  trede  /  goys  thorow  my  nese 

So  hee  ! 

i.  PASTOR.     Tell  vs,  Mak,  if  ye  may, 
How  fare  ye,  I  say  ? 
MAK.     Bot  ar  ye  in  this  towne  to-day  ? 

Now  how  fare  ye  ?  493 

Ye  haue  ryn  in  the  myre  /  and  ar  weytt  yit ; 
I  shall  make  you  a  fyre  /  if  ye  will  syt. 

i  E.  E.  T.  S.  woman's. 


THE  SECOND  SHEPHERDS  PLAY.         Ill 

A  nores  wold  I  hyre,  /  thynk  ye  on  yit ; 

Well  qwytt  is  my  hyre,  —  /  my  dreme  this  is  itt,  — 

A  seson. 

I  haue  barnes,  if  ye  knew, 
Well  mo  then  enewe, 
Bot  we  must  drynk  as  we  brew, 

And  that  is  bot  reson.  502 

I  wold  ye  dynyd  or  ye  yode  ;  /  me  thynk  that  ye  swette. 

\i.  PASTOR.     Nay,  nawther  mendys  oure  mode  /  drynke  nor 

mette. 

MAK.     Why,  sir,  alys  you  oght  bot  goode  ?  / 
in.  PASTOR.  Yee,  oure  shepe  tha\. 

we  gett 
Ar  stollyn  as  thay  yode  ;  /  oure  los  is  grette. 

MAK.     Syrs,  drynkys  I 
Had  I  bene  thore, 
Som  shuld  haue  boght  it  full  sore. 
I.  PASTOR.     Mary,  som  men  trowes  that  ye  l  wore, 

And  that  vs  forthynky-y.  511 

n.  PASTOR.     Mak,  som  men  trowys  /  that  it  shuld  be  ye. 
in.  PASTOR.     Ayther  ye  or  youre  spouse,  /  so  say  we. 
MAK.     Now  if  ye  haue  suspowse  /  to  Gill  or  to  me, 
Com  and  rype  oure  howse  /  and  then  may  ye  se 

Who  had  hir. 
If  I  any  shepe  fott, 
Aythor  cow  or  stott,  — 
And  Gyll,  my  wyfe,  rose  nott 

Here  syn  she  lade  hir,  —  520 

As  I  am  true  and  lele,  /  to  God  here  I  pray 
That  this  be  the  fyrst  inele  /  that  I  shall  ete  this  day. 
I.  PASTOR.     Mak,  as  haue  I  ceyll,  /  avyse  the,  I  say ; 
He  lernyd  tymely  to  steyll  /  that  couth  not  say  nay. 

1  K.  inserts  it. 


112  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

VXOR.     I  swelt  ! 
Outt,  thefys,  fro  my  wonys  ! 
Ye  com  to  rob  vs,  for  the  nonys. 
MAK.     Here  ye  not  how  she  gronys? 

Youre  hartys  shuld  melt.  529 

VXOR.     Outt,  thefys,  fro  my  barne  !  /  negh  hym  not  thor. 
MAK.     Wyst  ye  how  she  had  fame,  /  youre  hartys  wold  be 

sore. 

Ye  do  wrang,  I  you  warne,  /  that  thus  commys  before 
To  a  woman  that  has  fame  /  —  bot  I  say  no  more  ! 

VXOR.     A,  my  medyll  ! 
I  pray  to  God  so  mylde, 
If  euer  I  you  begyld, 
That  I  ete  this  chylde 

That  lyg/J  in  this  credyll.  538 


MAK.     Peasse,  woman,  for  Godys  payn,  /  and  cry  not  so  : 

Thou  spyllys  thy  brane  /  and  makyj  me  full  wo. 

II.  PASTOR.     I  trow  oure  shepe  be  slayn.  /  What  finde  ye 

two? 
in.  PASTOR.     All  wyrk  we  in  vayn  ;  /  as  well  may  we  go. 

Bot  hatters, 
I  can  fynde  no  flesh, 
Hard  nor  nesh, 
Salt  nor  fresh, 

Bot  two  tome  platers.  547 

Whik  catell  bot  this,  /  tame  nor  wylde, 

None,  as  haue  I  blys,  /  as  lowde  as  he  smylde. 

VXOR.     No,  so  God  me  blys  /  and  gyf  me  ioy  of  my  chylde  ! 

I.  PASTOR.     We  haue  m^rkyd  amys  ;  /  I  hold  vs  begyld. 

ii.  PASTOR.     Syr,  don. 
Syr,  Oure  Lady  hym  saue  ! 
Is  youre  chyld  a  knaue  ? 
MAK.     Any  lord  myght  hym  haue, 

This  chyld  to  his  son  ;  556 


THE    SECOND    SHEPHERDS'    PLAY.  113 

When  he  wakyns  he  kyppys  /  that  ioy  is  to  se. 

in.  PASTOR.     In  good  tyme  to  hys  hyppys  /  and  in  cele  ! 

Bot  who  was  his  gossyppys  /  so  sone  rede  ? 

MAK.     So  fare  fall  thare  lyppys  !  / 

I.  PASTOR.  Hark  now,  a  le  1 

MAK.     So  God  thaym  thank, 
Parkyn,  and  Gybon  Waller,  I  say, 
And  gentill  lohn  Home,  in  good  fay, 
He  made  all  the  garray, 

With  the  greatt  shank.  565 

li.  PASTOK.     Mak,  freyndyj  will  we  be,  /  ffor  we  ar  all  oone. 
MAK.     We  !  now  I  hald  for  me,  /  for  mender  gett  I  none, 
ff are-well  all  thre  !  /  all  glad  were  ye  gone.      \Tke skepiterds go  out.] 
in.  PASTOR,     ff  are  wordyj  may  ther  be,  /  bot  luf  is  ther  none 
This  yere. 

I.  PASTOR.     Gaf  ye  the  chyld  any-thyng? 

II.  PASTOR.     I  trow,  not  oone  farthyng. 
ill.  PASTOR,     ffast  agane  will  I  flyng, 

Abyde  ye  me  there.  [Goes  back  to  the  house.']  574 

Mak,  take  it  to  no  grefe,  /  if  I  com  to  thi  barne. 

MAK.     Nay,  thou  dos  me  greatt  reprefe  /  and  fowll  has  thou 

fame. 

ill.  PASTOR.     The  child  will  it  not  grefe,/ that  lytyll  day-starne. 
Mak,  with  youre  leyfe,  /  let  me  gyf  youre  barne 

Bot  sex  *  pence. 

MAK.     Nay,  do  way  ;  he  slepys. 
in.  PASTOR.     Me  thynk  he  pepys. 
MAK.     When  he  wakyns  he  wepys  ; 

I  pray  you  gO  hence.  \The  other  shepherds  come  back.'}    583 

ill.  PASTOR.     Gyf   me  lefe    hym  to  kys,  /  and  lyft   vp  the 

Clowtt.  [Seeing  the 

What  the  dewill  is  this  ?  /  he  has  a  long  snowte. 
i  MS.  vj. 


114  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

I.  PASTOR.     He  is  nu?rkyd  amys  ;  /  we  wate  ill  abowte. 

II.  PASTOR.     Ill  spon  weft,  iwys./  ay  commys  foull  owte. 

Ay,  so  ! 

He  is  lyke  to  cure  shepe  ! 
II.  PASTOR.     How,  Gyb  !  may  I  pepe  ? 
I.  PASTOR.     I  trow,  kynde  will  crepe 

Where  it  may  not  go.  592 

n.  PASTOR.     This  was  a  qwantt  gawde  /  and  a  far  cast. 

It  was  a  hee  frawde.  / 

in.  PASTOR.  Yee,  syrs,  wast. 

Lett  bren  this  bawde,  /  and  bynd  hir  fast. 

A  !  fals  skawde,  /  hang  at  the  last ! 

So  shall  thou. 

Wyll  ye  se  how  thay  swedyll 
His  foure  feytt  in  the  medyll? 
Sagh  I  neuer  in  a  credyll 

A  hornyd  lad  or  now.  60 1 

MAK.     Peasse  byd  I  !  what,  /  lett  be  youre  fare  ! 
I  am  he  that  hym  gatt,  /  and  yond  woman  hym  bare, 
i.  PASTOR .     What  dewill  shall  he  hatt  ?  /  Mak  ?     Lo 

God,  Mak/j  ayre  ! 
n.- PASTOR.     Lett  be  all  that.  /  Now  God  gyf  hym  care, 

I  sagh. 

VXOR.     A  pratty  childe  is  he 
As  syttys  on  a  womans  kne  ; 
A  dyllydowne,  pmle, 

To  gar  a  man  laghe.  610 

in.  PASTOR.     I  know  hym  by  the  eere-marke ;  /  that  is  a 

good  tokyn. 

MAK.     I  tell  you,  syrs,  hark  !  /  hys  noyse  was  brokyn  ; 
Sythen  told  me  a  clerk  /  that  he  was  forspokyn. 
I.  PASTOR.     This  is  a  fals  wark  ;  /  I  wold  fayn  be  wrokyn  ; 

Gett  wepyn  ! 

VXOR.     He  was  takyn  w/t^  an  elfe, 
I  saw  it  myself  ; 

l  E.  E.  T.  S.  waman's. 


THE  SECOND  SHEPHERDS'  PLAY.         I  I  5 

When  the  clok  stroke  twelf 

Was  he  forshapyn.  619 

ii.  PASTOR.     Ye  two  ar  well  feft  /  sam  in  a  stede. 

I.  PASTOR.1     Syn  thay  manteyn  thare  theft,  /  let  do  thaym 

to  dede. 

MAK.     If  I  trespas  eft,  /  gyrd  of  my  heede  i 
WzU  you  will  I  be  left.  / 
in.  PASTOR.^  Syrs,  do  my  reede  : 

ffor  this  trespas 
We  will  nawther  ban  ne  flyte, 
ffyght  nor  chyte, 
Bot  haue  done  as  tyte, 

And  cast  hym  in  canvas.  628 

[They  toss  Mak  in  a  sheet,] 

[i.  PASTOR.]    Lord,  what  !  I  am  sore,  /  in  poynt  for  to  bryst. 
In  fayth,  I  may  no  more  ;  /  therfor  wyll  I  ryst. 

II.  PASTOR.     As  a  shepe  of  sevyn3  skore  /  he  weyd  in  my 

fyst. 
ffor  to  slepe  ay-whore  /  me  thynk  that  I  lyst. 

in.  PASTOR.     Now  I  pray  you, 
Lyg  downe  in  this  grene. 
i.  PASTOR.     On  these  thefyj  yit  I  mene. 
in.  PASTOR.     Wherto  shuld  ye  tene  ? 

Do  4  as  I  say  you?  .  637 

A  ngelus  cantat  "  Gloria  in  exelsis  "  ;  posted  dicat : 

ANGELUS.     Ryse,  hyrd-men  heynd  !  /  for  now  is  he  borne 
That  shall  take  fro  the  feynd  /  that  Adam  had  lorne  : 
That  warloo  to  sheynd  /  this  nyght  is  he  borne  ; 
God  is  made  youre  freynd  /  now  at  this  morne. 

He  behestys, 
At  bedlem  go  se, 

1  E.  E.  T.  S.  in.  PASTOR  ;  see  Notts. 

2  E.  E.  T.  S.  i.  PASTOR. 

3  MS.  vij. 

4  E.  E.  T.  S.  So. 


Il6  TOWNELEV    PLAYS. 

Ther  lygys  that  fre 
In  a  cryb  full  poorely 

Betwyx  two  bestys.  646 

I.  PASTOR.     This  was  a  qwant  stevyn  /  that  euer  yit  I  hard.1 
It  is  a  meruell  to  neuyn,  /  thus  to  be  skard. 
li.  PASTOR.     Of  Godys  son  of  heuyn  /  he  spak  vpward. 
All  the  wod  on  a  leuyn  /  me  thoght  that  he  gard 

Appere. 

in.  PASTOR.     He  spake  of  a  barne 
In  Bedlem,  I  you  warne. 
I.  PASTOR.     That  betokyns  yond  starne  ; 

Let  vs  seke  hym  there.  655 

n.  PASTOR.     Say,  what  was  his  song?  /  hard  ye  not  how  he 

crakyd  it, 

Thre  brefes  to  a  long  ?  / 

in.  PASTOR.  Yee,  mary,  he  hakt  it  ; 

Was  no  crochett  wrong,  /  nor  no-thyng  that  lakt  it. 

I.  PASTOR,     ffor  to  syng  vs  emong,  /  right  as  he  knakt  it, 

I  can. 

II.  PASTOR.     Let  se  how  ye  croyne  ; 
Can  ye  bark  at  the  mone  ? 

in.  PASTOR.     Hold  youre  tonges,  haue  done  ! 

I.  PASTOR.     Hark  alter,  than  !  664 

II.  PASTOR.     To  Bedlem  he  bad  /  that  we  shuld  gang  ; 
I  am  full  fard  /  that  we  tary  to  lang. 

ill.  PASTOR.     Be  mery  and  not  sad,  /  of  myrth  is  oure  sang, 
Euer-lastyng  glad  /  to  mede  may  we  fang, 

W/t/!outt  noyse. 

I.  PASTOR.     Hy  we  iheder  for-thy, — 
If  we  be  wete  and  wery,  — 
To  that  chyld  and  that  lady  ! 

We  haue  it  not  to  lose.  673 

1  That  euer  yit  I  hard  -was  originally  he  spake  vpward,  from  1.  649,  but 
this  has  been  crossed  out  -with  red  ink.  K.  changes  a  qwant  stevyn  to  the 
qwantest  stevyn ;  but  -why  not  change  that  euer  to  as  euer,  if  emendation 
must  be  made  ? 


THE  SECOND  SHEPHERDS*  PLAY.         117 

II.  PASTO/?.     We  fynde  by  the   prophecy  —  /  let  be  youre 

dyn  — 

Of  Dauid  and  Isay/  and  mo  then  I  myn, 
Thay  pr<5>phecyed  by  clergy  /  that  in  a  vyrgyn 
Shuld  he  lyght  and  ly,  /  to  slokyn  oure  syn 

And  slake  it, 
Oure  l  kynde  from  wo  ; 
ffor  Isay  sayd  so  : 
EC ce  2  virgo 

Concipiet  a  chylde  that  is  nakyd.  682 

in.  PASTOR,     ffull  glad  may  we  be  /  and  abyde  that  day 
That  lufly  to  se,  /  that  all  myghtyj  may. 
Lord,  well  were  me  /  for  ones  and  for  ay, 
Myght  I  knele  on  my  kne  /  som  word  for  to  say 

To  that  chylde. 
Bot  the  angell  sayd, 
In  a  cryb  wos  he  layde, 
He  was  poorly  arayd, 

Both  men^r8  and  mylde.  691 

I.  PASTOR.     Patryarkes  that  has  bene  /  and  pr^phetyj  be- 

forne, 

Thay  desyryd  to  haue  sene  /  this  chylde  that  is  borne. 
Thay  ar  gone  full  clene  ;  /  that  haue  thay  lorne. 
We  shall  se  hym,  I  weyn,  /  or  it  be  morne, 

To  tokyn. 

When  I  se  hym  and  fele, 
Then  wote  I  full  vveyll 
It  is  true  as  steyll 

That  propheiys  haue  spokyn  :  700 

To  so  poore  as  we  ar  /  that  he  wold  appere, 
ffyrst  fynd,  and  declare  /  by  his  messyngere. 
n.  PASTOR.  Go  we  now,  let  vs  fare  ;  /  the  place  is  vs  nere. 

1  K.  inserts  To  kepe,  or  To  fre,  before  Oure. 
*  E.  E.  T.  S.  Citfc ;  corr.  by  K. 
8  K.  suggests  meke. 


I  I  8  TOWNELEY    PLAYS. 

in.  PASTOR.     I  am  redy  and  yare  ;  /  go  we  in-fere 

To  that  bright. 
Lord,  if  thi  wyll  it 1  be, 
We  ar  lewde  all  thre  : 
Thou  grauntt  vs  somkyns  gle 

To  comforth  thi  wight.  709 

[  They  enter  the  stable] 

I.  PASTOR.     Hayll,  comly  and  clene  !  /  hayll,  yong  child  ! 
Hayll,  Maker,2  as  I  meyne  !  /  of  a  madyn  so  mylde  ! 
Thou  has  waryd,  I  weyne,  /  the  warlo  so  wylde  ; 
The  fals  gyler  of  teyn,  /  now  goys  he  begylde. 

Lo,  he  merys  ; 
Lo,  he  laghys,  my  swetyng  ! 
A  wel  fare  8  metyng  ! 
I  haue  h  olden  my  hetyng. 

Haue  a  bob  of  cherys  !  718 

u.  PASTOR.      Hayll,  sufferan  Sauyoure,  /  ffor  thou  has  vs 

soght ! 

Hayll,  frely  foyde  and  floure,  /  that  all  thyng  has  wroght ! 
Hayll,  full  of  fauoure,  /  that  made  all  of  nnght ! 
Hayll  !  I  kneyll  and  I  cowre.  /  A  byrd  haue  I  broght 

To  my  barne. 
Hayll,  lytyll  tyne  mop  ! 
Of  cure  crede  thou  art  crop  : 
I  wold  drynk  on  thy  cop, 

Lytyll  day-starne  !  727 

in.  PASTOR.     Hayll,  derlyng  dere,  /  full  of  godhede  ! 
I  pray  the  be  nere  /  when  that  I  haue  nede. 
Hayll !  swete  is  thy  chere  !  /  My  hart  wold  blede 
To  se  the  sytt  here  /  in  so  poore  wede, 
Vfiih  no  pe«nys. 

1  E.  E.  T.  S.  wylles. 

2  K.  inserts  born. 

8  E.  E.  T.  S.  welfare. 


THE  SECOND  SHEPHERDS'  PLAY.         119 

Hayll !  put  furth  thy  dall ! 
I  bryng  the  bot  a  ball : 
Haue  and  play  the  with-all, 

And  go  to  the  tenys.  736 

MARIA.     The  Fader  of  heuen,  /  God  omnypotent, 

That  sett  all  on  seuen,  /  his  Son  has  he  sent. 

My  name  couth  he  neuen  /  and  lyght  or  he  went. 

I  conceyuyd  hym  full  euen,  /  thrugh  myght  as  he  merit ; 

And  now  he  is  borne. 
He  kepe  you  fro  wo  ! 
I  shall  pray  hym  so. 
Tell,  furth  as  ye  go, 

And  myn  on  this  morne.  745 

I.  PASTOR,     ffarewell,  lady,  /  so  fare  to  beholde, 

With  thy  childe  on  thi  kne  !  / 

ii.  PASTOR.  Bot  he  lygys  full  cold. 

Lord,  well  is  me  !  /  now  we  go,  thou  behold. 

in.  PASTOR,     ffor  so  the,  all  redy  !  /  it  semys  to  be  told 

Full  oft. 

i.  PASTOR.     What  grace  we  haue  fun  ! 
ii.  PASTOR.     Com  furth,  now  ar  we  won. 
in.  PASTOR.     To  syng  ar  we  bun  : 

Let  take  on  loft !  754 

Explicit  pagina  Pas/arum. 


COVENTRY   CORPUS   CHRISTI    PLAYS. 


Reprinted  from  "  A  Dissertation  on  the  Pageants  or  Dramatic  Mysteries 
Anciently  performed  at  Coventry  ...  by  Thomas  Sharp.  Coventry,  1825."  In 
the  notes  S.  indicates  such  of  Sharp's  readings  as  I  have  changed.  The  date  of 
the  MS.  is  given  at  the  end  of  the  play. 

It  will  aid  the  reader  if  he  bears  in  mind  that  in  this  play  iv  and  v  are  often 
interchanged,  and  that  such  words  as  holy,  home  are  sometimes  spelt  wholle,  whom. 
In  general,  the  sound  will  be  a  better  guide  to  the  meaning  than  the  spelling.  The 
is  a  frequent  spelling  for  they,  and  occurs  occasionally  for  them ;  in  such  cases  I 
have  added  a  letter  in  brackets  to  aid  the  reader. 


[THE  PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.] 

ISAYE.     The  Sofferent  thatt  seithe  ev<?re  seycrette, 

He  saue  you  all  and  make  you  p^rfett  and  stronge,* 

And  geve  us  2  grace  wz't^  his  marce  forto  mete ! 
For  now  in  grett  mesere  mankynd  ys  bownd  ; 
The  sarpent  hathe  gevin  vs  soo  mortall  a  wonde 

That  no  creature  ys  abull  vs  forto  reyles 

Tyll  thye  right  vncion  of  Jvda  dothe  seyse.  7 

Then  schall  moche  myrthe  and  joie  in-cresse  ; 

And  the  right  rote  in  Isaraell  sprynge, 
Thatt  schall  bryng  forthe  the  greyne  off  whollenes  ; 

And  owt  of  danger  he  schall  vs  bryng 

In-to  thatt  reygeon  where  he  ys  kyng 
Wyche  abowe  all  othur  far  dothe  a-bownde, 
And  thatt  cruell  Sathan  he  schall  confownde.  14 

Where-fore  I  cum  here  apon  this  grownde 
To  comforde  eyuere  9  creature  off  birthe  ; 

1  Qy.  sounde.  2  S.  gevenwj.  8  S.  ey^me. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   121 

For  I,  Isaye  the  pr<?fet,  hathe  fownde 

Many  swete  matters  whereof  we  ma  make  myrth 

On  this  same  wyse  ; 

For,  thogh  that  Adam  be  demid  to  deythe 
W/t^  all  his  childur,  asse  Abell  and  Seythe, 
Yett  Ecce  virgo  consepeet,  — 

Loo,  where  a  reymede  schall  ryse  !  23 

Be-holde,  a  mayde  schall  conseyve  a  childe 

And  gett  vs  more  gr*zce  then  eyu^r  men  had, 
And  hir  meydin-[h]od  nothing  defylid. 
Sche  ys  deputyd  to  beare  the  Sun,  Almyghte  God. 

Loo  !  sufferntis,1  now  ma  you  be  glad, 
For  of  this  meydin  all  we  ma  be  fayne  ; 

For  Adam,  that  now  lyis  in  sorrois  full  sade, 
Hir  gloreose  birth  schall  reydeme  hym  ageyn 
From  bondage  and  thrall. 

Now  be  myrre  eyu^re  mon,1 

For  this  dede  bryffly  in  Isaraell  schalbe  done, 

And  before  the  Fathur  in  trone, 

Thatt  schall  glade  vs  all.  36 

More  of  this  matter  fayne  wolde  I  meve, 

But  lengur  tyme  I  haue  not  here  for  to  dwell. 
That  Lorde  thai  ys  marcefull  his  marce  soo  in  vs  ma  pmre 
For  to  sawe  owre  sollis  from  the  darknes  of  hell ; 
And  to  his  blys 

He  vs  bryng 
Asse  he  ys 

Bothe  lord  and  kyng, 

And  shall  be  eyu^rlastyng, 

In  secula  secutorum,  amen  /  a  46 

1  A  curl  over  n. 

2  These  six  lines  (41-46)  as  two  in  S.,  the  first  ending  -with  king. 


122  COVENTRY    CORPUS    CHRISTI    PLAYS. 

[Exit  Isaiah  ;  enter  Gabriel  to  Mary.] 

GABERELL.     Hayle,  Mare,  full  of  grace  ! 

Owre  Lord  God  ys  wz't^  the  ; a 
Aboue  all  wemen  2  thai  eyuer  wasse, 

Lade,  blesside  mote  thow  be  !  50 

MARE.     All-myght  Fathur  and  King  of  blys, 

From  all  dysses  tko\i  saue  me  now ! 
For  inwardely  my  spretis  trubbuld  ys, 

Thatt  I  am  amacid  and  kno  nott  how.  54 

GABERELL.     Dred  the  nothyng,  meydin,  of  this ; 

From  heyvin  a-bowe  hyddur  am  I  sent 
Of  ambassage  from  that  Kyng  of  blys 

Unto  the,  lade  and  virgin  reyu^rent ! 

Salutyng  the  here  asse  most  exselent, 
Whose  vertu  aboue  all  othur  dothe  abownde. 
Wherefore  in  the  grace  schalbe  fownde  ; 
For  thow  schalt  conseyve  apon  this  grownd 

The  Second  P^rsone  of  God  in  trone  ; 

He  wylbe  borne  of  the  alone  ; 

Wzt^-owt  sin  tho\i  schalt  hy*#  see.8 

Thy  grace  and  thi  goodnes  wyl  neyuer  be  gone, 

But  eyuer  to  lyve  in  v^rgenete.  67 

MARE.     I  marvell  soore  how  thatt  mabe. 

Manus  cuwpany  knev  I  neyu^r  yett, 
Nor  neyu<?r  to  do,  kast  I  me, 

Whyle  thatt  owre  Lord  sendith  me  my  wytt.  71 

GABERELL.     The  Wholle  Cost  in  the  schall  lyght, 

And  schado  thy  soil  soo  w/t^  vertu 
From  the  Fathur  thatt  ys  on  hyght. 

These  wordis,  turtill,  the[y]  be  full  tru.  75 

1  Lines  47,  48  as  one  in  S. 

a  Curl  aver  n. 

8  Lines  64,  65  as  one  in  S. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   I2J 

This  chylde  that  of  the  schalbe  borne 

Ys  the  Second  P<?rsone  in  Trenete  ; 
He  schall  saue  that  wase  forlorne 

And  the  fyndis  powar  dystroie  schall  he.  79 

These  wordis,  lade,  full  tru  the[y]  bene, 

Andiurihur,  lade,  here  in  thy  noone  lenage 
Be-holde  Eylesabeth,  thy  cosyn  clene, 

The  wyche  wasse  barren  and  past  all  age,  83 


And  now  vfitk  chyld  sche  hath  bene 

Syx  monethis  and  more,  asse  schalbe  sene  ; 

Where-for,  discomforde  Me  not,  Mare  ! 

For  to  God  onpossibull  nothyng  mabe.  87 

MARE.     Now,  and  yt  be  thatt  Lordis  wyll 

Of  my  bodde  to  be  borne  and  forto  be, 
Hys  hy  pleysuris  forto  full-fyll 

Asse  his  one.  hande-mayde  I  submyt  me.  91 

GABERELL.     Now  blessid  be  Me  tyme  sett 

That  thovi  wast  borne  in  thy  degre  ! 
For  now  ys  the  knott  surely  knytt, 

And  God  conseyvide  in  Trenete.  95 

Now  fare-well,  lade  off  myghtis  most  ! 

Vnto  the  God-hed  I  the  be-teyche. 
MARE.     Thatt  Lord  the  gyde  in  eyu<?re  cost, 

And  looly  he  leyde  me  and  be  my  leyche  !  99 

Here  the  angell  defartytk,  anAJosej?  cumyth  in  and  seyth: 

JOSOFF.     Mare,  my  wyff  so  dere, 
How  doo  ye,  dame,  and  whatt  chere 

Ys  with  you  this  tyde  ? 
MARE.     Truly,  husebonde,  I  am  here 

Owre  Lordis  wyll  forto  abyde.  104 


124        COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

JOSOFF.     What !  I  troo  thatt  we  be  all  schent ! 
Sey,  womon  ; l  who  hath  byn  here  sith  I  went, 

To  rage  wyth  thee  ? 

MARE.     Syr,  here  was  nothur  man 1  nor  mans  eyvin, 
But  only  the  sond  of  owre  Lorde  God  in  heyvin. 
JOSOFF.     Sey  not  soo,  womon  ;  for  schame,  ley  be  !  no 

Ye  be  vtiih  chyld  soo  wondurs  grett, 
Ye  nede  no  more  theroi  to  tret 

Agense  all  right. 

For  sothe,  this  chylde,  dame,  ys  not  myne. 
Alas,  that  eyuer  wz't^  my  nynee 

I  suld  see  this  syght !  116 

Tell  me,  womon  ; 1  whose  ys  this  chyld  ? 
MARE.     Non  but  youris,  husebond  soo  myld, 

And  thatt  schalbe  seyne,  [ywis]. 
JOSOFF.     But  myne  ?  alias  !  alas  !  why  sey  ye  soo  ? 
Wele-awey  !  womon,  now  may  I  goo, 

Be-gyld  as  many  a-nothur  ys.  122 

MARE.     Na,  truly,  sir,  ye  be  not  be-gylde, 
Nor  yet  wz't^  spott  of  syn  I  am  not  defylde  ; 

Trust  yt  well,  huse-bonde. 

JOSOFF.     Huse-bond,  in  feythe  !  and  thai  acold  ! 
A  !  weylle-awey,  Josoff,  as  thow  ar  olde  ! 
Lyke  a  fole  now  ma  I  stand 

And  truse.2 

But,  in  feyth,  Mare,  thovi  art  in  syn ; 
Soo  moche  ase  I  haue  cheyrischyd  /^e,  dame,  and  all  th\ 

kyn, 
Be-hynd  rny  bake  to  serve  me  thus  !  132 

All  olde  men,  insampull  take  be  me, — 
How  I  am  be-gylid  here  may  you  see  !  — 
To  wed  soo  yong  a  chyld. 

1  Curl  over  n.  z  Lines  128,  129  as  one  in  S. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   12$ 

Now  fare-well,  Mare,  I  leyve  the  here  alone,  — 
[Wo]  worthe  the,  dam,  and  thy  warkis  ycheone  !  — 
For  I  woll  noo-more  be  be-gylid1 

For  frynd  nor  fooe.2 
Now  of  this  ded  I  am  soo  dull, 
And  off  my  lyff  I  am  soo  full, 

No  farthur  ma  I  goo.3  142 

[Lies  down  to  sleep ;  to  him  enters  an  angel^ 

i.  ANGELL.*     Aryse  up,  Josoff,  and  goo  whom  ageyne 

Vnto  Mare,  thy  wyff,  that  ys  so  fre. 
To  comford  hir  loke  tha\.  thow  be  fayne, 

For,  Josoff,  a  cleyne  meydin  ys  schee  : 
Sche  hath  conseyvid  wzt/z-owt  any  trayne 

The  Seycond  Person  in  Trenete  ; 
]hesu  schalbe  hys  name,  sarten, 

And  all  thys  world  sawe  schall  he  ; 

Be  not  agast.6 

JOSOFF.     Now,  Lorde,  I  thanke  the  wz't/*  hart  full  sad, 
For  of  these  tythyngis  I  am  soo  glad 

That  all  my  care  awey  ys  cast ; 

Wherefore  to  Mare  I  woll  in  hast.  155 

[Returns  to  Mary] 

A  !  Mare,  Mare,  I  knele  full  loo  ; 

Forgeve  me,  swete  wyff,  here  in  this  lond  ! 
Marce,  Mare  !  for  now  I  kno 

Of  youre  good  gou<?rnance  and  how  yt  doth  stond.  159 

Thogh  6  thatt  I  dyd  the  mys-name, 
Marce,  Mare  !  Whyle  I  leve, 
Wyll  I  neyu<?r,  swet  wyff,  the  greve 

In  ernyst  nor  in  game.5 
MARE.     Now,  that  Lord  in  heyvin,  sir,  he  you  forgyve  ! 

i  S.  be  gylid  be.  2  138,  139  as  one  in  S. 

8  Lines  141,  142  as  one  in  S. 

*  S.  ANGELL  j  ;  so  below  for  both  angels  and  shepherds, 
6  These  two  lines  as  one  in  S.        6  S.  Thoght. 


126  COVENTRY    CORPUS    CHRISTI    PLAYS. 

And  I  do  for-geve  yow  in  hys  name 

For  euermore.1 
JOSOFF.     Now  truly,  swete  wyff,  to  you  I  scythe  same.  167 

But  now  to  Bedlem  must  I  wynde 

And  scho  my-self,  soo  full  of  care  ; 
And  I  to  leyve  you,  this  grett,  behynd,  — 

God  wott,  the  whyle,  dame,  how  you  schuld  fare.  171 

MARE.     Na,  hardely,  husebond,  dred  ye  nothyng  ; 

For  I  woll  walke  with  you  on  the  wey. 
I  trust  in  God,  all-mighte  kyng, 

To  spede  right  well  in  owre  jurney.  175 

JOSOFF.     Now  I  thanke  you,  Mare,  of  your  goodnes 

That  ye  my  wordis  woll  nott  blame ; 
And  syth  that  to  Bedlem  we  schall  vs  dresse, 

Goo  we  to-gedur  in  Goddis  wholle  name.  170 

[They  set  out,  and  travel  a  while  J] 

Now  to  Bedlem  have  we  leygis  three  ; 

The  day  ys  ny  spent,  yt  drawyth  toward  nyght ; 
Fayne  at  your  es,  dame,  I  wold  that  ye  schulde  be, 

For  you  grone  2  all  werely,  yt  semyth  in  my  syght.  1 83 

MARE.     God  haue  marcy,  Josoffe,  my  spowse  soo  dere  ; 

All  pr^fettis  herto  dothe  beyre  wyttnes, 
The  were  tyme  now  draith  nere 

That  my  chyld  wolbe  borne,  wyche  ys  Kyng  of  blis.          187 

Vnto  sum  place,  Josoff,  hyndly  me  leyde, 

Thatt  I  moght  rest  me  w/t^  grace  in  this  tyde. 

The  lyght  of  the  Fathur  ou<?r  hus  both  spreyde, 

And  the  grace  of  my  sun  wz't^  vs  here  a-byde  !  191 

JOSOFF.     Loo  !  blessid  Mare,  here  schall  ye  lend, 

Cheff  chosyn  of  owre  Lorde  and  cleynist  in  degre  ; 

And  I  for  help  to  towne  woll  I  wende. 

Ys  nott  this  the  best,  dame?  whatt  sey  ye?  195 

1  Lines  165,  166  as  one  in  S.  a  S.  groue  ;  possibly  for  growe? 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   I2/ 

MARE.     God  haue  marce,  Josoff,  my  huse-bond  soo  meke  ! 

And  hartely  I  pra  you,  goo  now  fro  me. 
JOSOFF.     That  schalbe  done  in  hast,  Mare  so  swete  ! 

The  comford  of  the  Wholle  Cost  leyve  I  wz'tA  the.  199 

Now  to  Bedlem  streyght  woll  I  wynd 

To  gett  som  helpe  for  Mare  soo  free. 
Sum  helpe  of  wem#zen  God  may  me  send, 

That  Mare,  full  off  grace,  pleysid  ma  be.  203 

[In  another  part  of  the  place  a  shepherd  begins  to  speak.'} 

I.  PASTOR.     Now  God,  that  art  in  Trenete, 

Thow  sawe  my  fellois  and  me  ! 

For  I  kno  nott  wheyre  my  scheepe  nor  the[y]  be, 

Thys  nyght  yt  ys  soo  colde. 
Now  ys  yt  nygh  the  myddis  of  the  nyght  ; 
These  wedurs  ar  darke  and  dym  of  lyght, 
Thatt  of  them  can  hy  haue  noo  syght, 

Standyng  here  on  this  wold.  21  1 

i 

But  now  to  make  there  hartis  lyght, 
Now  wyll  I  full  right 

Stand  apon  this  looe,1 
And  to  them  cry  wz't^  all  my  myght,  — 

Full  well  my  voise  the[y]  kno  : 

!  fellois  !  hoo  !  hooe  !  hoo  !  217 


[Two  other  shepherds  appear  (in  the  street).] 

ii.  PASTOR.     Hark,  Sym,  harke  !  I  here  owre  brothur  on  the 

looe  ; 

This  ys  hys  woise,  right  well  I  knoo  ; 
There-fore  toward  hym  lett  vs  goo, 

And  folio  his  woise  a-right. 
See,  Sym,  se,  where  he  doth  stond  ! 
I  am  ryght  glad  we  haue  hym  fond  ! 
Brothur,  where  hast  thow  byn  soo  long, 

And  hit  ys  soo  cold  this  nyght  ?  *  225 

1  Lines  213,  214  as  one  in  S.  2  S.  And  this  nyght  hit  ys  soo  cold. 


128       COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

i.  PASTOR.     E  !  fryndis,  ther  cam  a  pyrie  of  wynd  w/'tA  a 

myst  suddenly,1 

Thatt  forth  off  my  weyis  went  I 
And  grett  heyvenes  then  2  made  I 

And  wase  full  sore  afryght.8 
Then  forto  goo  wyst  I  nott  whyddur, 
But  trawellid  on  this  loo  hyddur  and  thyddur  ; 
I  wasse  so  were  of  this  cold  weddur 

Thatt  nere  past  wasse  my  might.  233 

in.  PASTOR.     Brethur,  now  we  be  past  thai  fryght, 
And  hit  ys  far  wz't/z-in  the  nyght, 
Full  sone  woll  spryng  the  day-lyght, 

Hit  drawith  full  nere  the  tyde. 
Here  awhyle  lett  vs  rest, 
And  repast  owreself  of  the  best ; 
Tyll  thatt  the  sun  ryse  in  the  est 

Let  vs  all  here  abyde.  241 

There  the  scheppytdis  drawys  furth  there  meyte  and  doth  eyte  and  drynk ; 
and  asse  the\_y\  drynk,  the\_y]  fynd  the  star,  and  sey  thus : 

in.  PASTOR.     Brethur,  loke  vp  and  behold  ! 

Whatt  thyng  ys  yondur  thatt  schynith  soo  bryght  ? 
Asse  long  ase  eyu^r  I  haue  wachid  my  fold, 
Yett  sawe  I  neyuer  soche  a  syght 

In  fyld.4 

A  ha  !  now  ys  cum  the  tyme  tha\.  old  fathurs  hath  told, 
Thatt  in  the  wynturs  nyght  soo  cold 
A  chyld  of  meydyn  5  borne  be  he  wold 

In  whom  all  pr^feciys  schalbe  fullfyld.  250 

I.  PASTOR.     Truth  yt  ys  wz'U-owt  naye, 
Soo  seyd  the  pr^fett  Isaye, 

Thatt  a  6  chylde  schuld  be  borne  of  a  made  soo  bryght 

1  Curl  aver  n.  *  Lines  245,  246  as  one  in  S. 

3  S.  in.  6  Curl  over  n. 

»  S.  afrayde.  6  5.  has  I. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   I2Q 

In  wentur  ny  the  schortist  dey 

Or  elis  in  the  myddis  of  the  nyght.  255 

II.  PASTOR.     Loovid  be  God,  most  off  myght, 
That  owre  grace  ys  to  see  thatt  syght ; 
Pray  we  to  hym,  ase  hit  ys  right, 

Yff  thatt  his  wyll  yt  be, 

That  we  ma  haue  knoleyge  of  this  syngnefocacion 
And  why  hit  aperith  on  this  fassion  ; 
And  eyii(?r  to  hym  lett  vs  geve  lawdacion, 

In  yerthe  whyle  thatt  we  be.  263 

There  the  angelis  syng  "  Glorea  in  exsehis  Deo." 

in.  PASTOR.     Harke  !    the[y]   syng   abowe   in   the   clowdis 

clere  ! 

Hard  I  neyuer  of  soo  myrre  a  quere. 
Now,  gentyll  brethur,  draw  we  nere 

To  here  there  armonye. 

I.  PASTOR.     Brothur,  myrth  and  solas  ys  cum  hus  among  ; 
For  be  the  swettnes  of  ther  songe, 
Goddis  Sun  ys  cum,  whom  we  haue  lokid  for  long, 

Asse  syngnefyith  thys  star  that  we  do  see. 
n.  PASTOR.     "  Glare,  glorea  in   exselsis"    that  wase  th&c 
songe  ; 

How  sey  ye,  fellois,  seyd  the[y]  not  thus  ? 
I.  PASTOR.     Thatt  ys  welseyd  ;  now  goo  we  hence 
To  worschipe  thatt  chyld  of  hy  manyffecence, 
And  that  we  ma  syng  in  his  presence 

"  Et  in  tarra  pax  omyntbus"  277 

There  the  schepfardis  syngis  "Ase  I  tnvt  Rodde,"  J  and  Josoff  seyth  : 

JOSOFF.     Now,  Lorde,  this  noise  thai  I  do  here, 

With  this  grett  solemnete, 
Gretly  amendid  hath  my  chere  ; 

I  trust  hy  nevis  schortly  wolbe.  281 

1  For  the  song,  see  p.  151. 


I3O       COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

There  the  angellis  syng  "  Gloria  in  exsellsts'"  agtyne. 

MARE.     A  !  Josoff,  husebond,  cum  heddur  anon  ; 

My  chylde  ys  borne  thai  ys  Kyng  of  blys. 
JOSOFFE.     Now  welcuw  to  me,  the  Makar  of  mon, 
Wii/t  all  the  omage  thatt  I  con  ; 

Thy  swete  mothe  here  woll  I  kys.  286 

MARE.     A  !  Josoff,  husebond,  my  chyld  waxith  cold, 

And  we  haue  noo  fyre  to  warme  hym  wz't^. 
JOSOFF.     Now,  in  my  narmys  I  schall  hym  fold, 

Kyng  of  all  kyngis  be  fyld  and  be  fryth  ; 
He  myght  haue  had  bettur,  and  hymselfe  wold, 

Then  the  breythyng  of  these  bestis  to  warme  hym  vfi\Ji.    292 

MARE.     Now,  Josoff,  my  husbond,  fet  heddur  my  chyld, 

The  Maker  off  man  and  hy  Kyng  of  blys. 
JOSOFF.     That  schalbe  done  anon,  Mare  soo  myld, 

For  the  brethyng  of  these  bestis  hath  warmyd  [hym] 

well,  i-wys.  296 

\_A  ngels  appear  to  the  shepherds^ 

I.  ANGELL.     Hyrd-men x  hynd, 
Drede  ye  nothyng  2 

Off  thys  star  thatt  ye  do  se  ; 
For  thys  same  morne 
Godis  Sun  ys  borne  8 

In  Bedlem  of  a  meydin  fre.  302 

II.  ANGELL.     Hy  you  thyddur  in  hast ; 

Yt  ys  hys  wyll  ye  schall  hym  see 
Lyinge  in  a  cribbe  of  pore  reypaste, 

Yett  of  Davithis  lyne  cumon l  ys  hee.  306 

\_The  shepherds  approach  and -worship  the  Babe.] 

I.  PASTOR.     Hayle,  mayde-mothur  and  wyff  soo  myld  ! 
Asse  the  angell  seyd,  soo  haue  we  fonde. 

1  Curl  over  n. 

2  Lines  297,  298  as  one  in  S. 
8  Lines  300,  301  as  one  in  S. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   13! 

I  haue  nothyng  to  present  witA  th\  chylde 

But  my  pype  ;  hold,  hold,  take  yt  in  thy  hond  ; 
Where-in  moche  pleysure  tha\.  I  haue  fond  ; 

And  now,  to  oonowre  thy  gloreose  byrthe, 

Thovv  schallt  yt  haue  to  make  the  myrthe.  313 

II.  PASTOR.     Now,  hayle  be  thow,  chyld,  and  thy  dame  ! 

For  in  a  pore  1  loggyn  here  art  thow  leyde, 
Soe  the  angell  seyde  and  tolde  vs  thy  name  ; 

Holde,  take  thow  here  my  hat  on  thy  hedde  ! 

And  now  off  won  thyng  thow  art  well  sped, 
For  weddur  thow  hast  noo  nede  to  complayne, 
For  wynde,  ne  sun,  hayle,  snoo  and  rayne.  320 

in.  PASTOR.     Hayle  be  thow,  Lorde  ouer  watur  <z«</landis  ! 

For  thy  cuwyng  all  we  ma  make  myrthe. 
Haue  here  my  myttens  to  pytt  on  th'\  hondis, 

Othur  treysure  haue  I  non  to  present  the  with.  324 

MARE.     Now,  herdmen  hynd, 
For  youre  comyng 

To  my  chylde  schall  I  prae, 
Asse  he  ys  heyvin  kyng, 
To  grant  you  his  blessyng, 
And  to  hys  blys  tha\.  ye  may  wynd 

At  your  last  day.  331 

There  the  scheppatdis  syngith  *  ageyne  andgothforthe  of  Replace;  and 
the  ij.  pro/ettis  citmyth  in  and  seyth  thus : 

I.  P/?OFETA.     Novellis,  novellis 
Of  wonderfull  m^rvellys,8 

Were  hy  and  defuce  vnto  the  heryng  ! 
Asse  scripture  tellis, 
These  strange  novellis 

To  you  I  bryng.4  337 

1  S.  apore. 

2  For  this  song,  see  p.  152. 

3  Lines  332,  333  as  one  in  S. 

4  Lines  335,  337  as  one  in  S. 


132    .    COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

ii.  P/?0FETA.     Now  hartely,  sir,  I  desyre  to  knoo, 

Yff  hytt  wolde  pleyse  you  forto  schoo, 
Of  what  maner  a  thyng. 

I.  P/e<?FETA.     Were  mystecall  vnto  youre  heryng,  — 
Of  the  natevete  off  a  kyng.  342 

n.  Py?OFETA.     Of  a  kyng  ?     Whence  schuld  he  cum  ? 

I.  P/fOFETA.      From    thatt   reygend   ryall   and  mighty 

mancion, 
The  sede  seylesteall  and  heyvinly  vysedome, 

The  Second  Person  and  Godis  one  Sun, 
For  owre  sake  now  ys  man  be-cum.1  347 

This  godly  spere 
Desendid  here  z 
Into  a  virgin  clere. 
Sche,  on-defyld8 

Be  whose  warke  obskevre 
Owre  frayle  nature 
Ys  now  begilde  5 

II.  Ptf0FETA.     Why,  hathe  sche  a  chylde?  355 

I.  PXOFETA.     E  !  trust  hyt  well ; 

And  never  the  las6 

Yet  ys  sche  a  mayde  evin  asse  sche  wasse, 
And  hir  sun  the  kyng  of  Isaraell.  359 

n.  P^OFETA.     A  wondur-full  marvell 

How  thatt  ma  be,  7 
And  far  dothe  exsell 

All  owre  capasete  : 7 
How  that  the  Trenete, 

Of  soo  hy  regallete,  7 
Schuld  jonyd  be  8 

Vnto  owre  mortallete  ! 7  367 

1  Curl  over  m.  6  Lines  353,  354  as  one  in  S. 

2  Lines  348,  349  as  one  in  S.          6  Lines  356,  357  as  one  in  S. 

8  Lines  350,  351  as  one  in  S.          7  This  and  the  preceding  line  as  one  in  S. 
*  Line  missing.  8  S.  be  jonyd. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   133 

I.  PKOFETA.     Of  his  one  grett  marce, 

As  ye  shall  se  the  exposyssion,1 
Throgh  whose  vmanyte 
All  Adamus  pn?gene l 

Reydemyd  schalbe  owt  of  pmlyssion.  372 

Syth  man  *  did  offend, 
Who  schuld  amend1 

But  the  seyd  mon2  and  no  nothur? 
For  the  wyche  cawse  he 
Incarnate  wold  be  l 

And  lyve  in  mesere  asse  manus  one  brothur.  378 

n.  P.S0FETA.     Syr  vnto  the  deyite, 
I  beleve  parfettle,1 

Onpossibul  to  be  there  ys  nothyng  ; 
How  be  yt  this  warke 
Vnto  me  ys  darke l 

In  the  opp^racion  or  wyrkyng. 

I.  P^OFETA.     Whatt  more  reypriff 
Ys  vnto  belyff 

Then  2  to  be  dowtyng  ?  8  387 

II.  P/?OFETA.     Yet  dowtis  oftymzw  hathe  derevacion. 

I.  P.S0FETA.     Thatt  ys  be  the  meynes  of  comenecacion  2 
Of  trawthis  to  haue  a  dev  prtfbacion 

Be  the  same  dowts  reysoning. 

n.  P.S0FETA.     Then  to  you  thys  won  thyng  : 
Of  whatt  nobull  andhy  lenage  ys  schee 
Thatt  myght  this  wrabull4  praicis  modur  be?  394 

I.  P-ffOTETA.     Ondowtid  sche  ys  cum  of  hy  parrage, 
Of  the  howse  of  Davith  and  Salamon  the  sage  ; 
And  won  off  the  same  lyne  joynid  to  hir  be  mareage  ; 

1  This  and  the  preceding  line  as  one  in  S. 

2  Curl  over  n.  •*  Qy.  renable,  see  Notes. 
8  Lines  385-387  as  one  in  S. 


134       COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

Of  whose  trybe 
We  do  subscrybe  1 
This  chy[l]dis  lenage.2  400 

ii.  P/fOFETA.     And  why  in  thatt  wysse  ? 
i.  PKOFE.TA.     For  yt  wasse  the  gysse 

To  conte  the  parant  on  the  manys  lyne, 

And  nott  on  the  feymy[ny]ne, 

Amonst  vs  here  in  Isaraell. 

n.  P/fOFETA.     Yett  can  I     nott  aspy     be  noo  wysse 
How  thys  chylde  borne  schuldbe  wzt/z-ow[t]  naturis  prejudyse. 

I.  P/eoFETA.     Nay,  no  prejvdyse  vnto  nature,  I  dare  wellsey; 
For  the  kyng  of  nature  may 

Hawe  all  at  his  one  wyll.8 
Dyd  not  Me  powar  of  God 
Make  Aronis  rod 
Beyre  frute  in  on  day?4  413 

II.  P/fOFETA.     Truth  yt  ys  in-ded. 

I.  P/fOTETA.     Then  loke  you  and  rede, 
n.  P/?0FETA.     A  !  I  p^seyve  the  sede 

Where  apon  thatt  you  spake.  6 
Yt  wasse  for  owre  nede 

Tha\.  he  frayle  nature  did  take,5 
And  his  blod  he  schuld  schede 

Amens  forto  make  5 

For  owre  transegression  ; 

Ase  yt  ys  seyd  in  pwfece 

Thai  of  the  lyne  of  Jude  6 

Schuld  spryng  a  right  Messe, 

Be  whom  all  wee 

Schall  6  haue  reydemcion,6  427 

I.  PXOFETA.     Sir,  now  ys  the  tyme  cu*«, 

date  there-of  run,7 
Off  his  Natevete. 

1  S.  subscryve.  *  Lines  411-413  as  one  in  S. 

*  Lines  398-400  as  one  in  S.          6  This  and  the  preceding  line  as  one  in  S. 

*  Lines  409,  410  as  one  in  S.          6  S.  schalld.  7  Curl  over  n. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   135 

II.  P/fOFETA.     Yett  I  beseke  you  hartele 

Thai  ye  wold  schoo  me  how  l 
Thatt  this  strange  nowelte 

Were  broght  vnto  you.1  434 

I.  P.ff0FETA.     This  othur  nyght  soo  cold 
Hereby  apon  a  wolde 
Scheppardis  wachyng  there  fold, 

In  the  nyght  soo  far 

To  them  aperid  a  star, 

And  eyuer  yt  drev  them  nar  ; 
Wyche  star  the[y]  did  behold 
Bryghter,  //&e[y]  sey,  M  folde 

Then  the  sun  so  clere 

In  his  mydday  spere, 
And  the[y]  these  tythyngis  tolde.  445 


li.  P-ffOTETA.     What,  seycretly? 
i.  P/eoFETA.     Na,  na,  hardely  ; 

The[y]  made  there-of  no  conseil  ; 
For  the[y]  song  ase  lowde 
Ase  eyuer  the[y]  cowde, 

Presyng  the  kyng  of  Isaraell.  451 

II.  P^OFETA.     Yett  do  I  marvell 
In  what  pyle  or  castell 

These  herdmen  2  dyd  hym  see. 

I.  P/e<?FETA.     Nothur  in  hallis  nor  yett  in  bowris 

Borne  wold  he  not  be, 
Nothur  in  castellis  nor  yet  in  towris 

That  semly  were  to  se  ;  458 

But  att  hys  Fathurs  wyll, 
The  pr^feci  to  full-fyll, 

Be-twyxt  an  ox  and  and  an  as 

Ih<?ju,  this  kyng,  borne  he  was. 
Heyvin  he  bryng  us  tyll  !  463 

1  This  and  the  preceding  line  as  one  in  S.  2  Curl  aver  n. 


136       COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

ii.  P/?<?FETA.     S/r,  a  !  but  when  these  sheppardis  had  seyne 

hym  there, 

In-to  whatt  place  did  the[y]  repeyre  ? 
I.  P/J0FETA.     Forthe  the[y]  went  and  glad  Me[y]  were, 

Going  the[y]  did  syng  ; 
With  myrthe  and  solas  />&e[y]  made  good  chere 

For  joie  of  thai  new  tything  ;  469 

And  aftur,  asse  I  hard  the[m]  tell, 

He  reywardid  them  full  well  : 

He  graunt  them  hevyn  ther-\n  to  dwell ; 

In  ar  the[y]  gon  viiih  joie  and  myrthe, 
And  there  songe  hit  ys  "  Neowell."  474 

There  the  ptofettis  gothefurthe  and  Erod  cumyfh  in,  and  the  messenger. 

NoNCEOSE.1     Faytes   pais,  dnyis,2  baronys  de  grande  rey- 

nowme ! 

Payis,  seneoris,  schevaleris  de  nooble  posance ! 8 
Pays,  gentis  homos,4  cowpaneonys  petis  eg~ance  ! 6 
Je  vos  command  dugard  treytus  6  sylance. 
Payis,  tanque  vottur  nooble  Roie  syre  ese  pr<?sance  ! 7 
Que  nollis8  p^rsone  ese  non  fawis  p^rwynt9  dedfferance, 
Nese 10  harde  de  frappas  ;n  mayis  gardus  to  to 12  paceance,  — 

1  In  reading  this  proclamation  I  have  had  the  aid  of  both  Professor  Kit- 
tredge  and  Professor  Sheldon.  As  this  aid,  however,  was  given  a  year  or  two 
ago  in  the  form  of  a  pretty  lively  oral  discussion  of  the  most  perplexing  of 
the  difficulties,  and  as  I  unfortunately  neglected  to  take  any  notes  at  the 
time,  I  find  myself  unable,  except  in  one  or  two  cases,  to  remember  to  which 
of  the  two  each  suggestion  belongs.  Of  course  they  are  not  responsible  for 
any  mistakes  that  may  appear  here.  I  have  printed  the  text  with  no  change 
except  in  punctuation.  The  footnotes  deal  with  all  difficulties  that  seem 
beyond  the  scope  of  even  a  beginner  in  French. 

3  Sheldon  suggests  that  this  is  the  pi.  of  O.F.  dame,  damne,  influenced  by 
the  spelling  of  some  form  of 'Lai.  dominus. 

3  puissance.  8  nulle.  n  frapper. 

4  The  second  o  is  probably  only  a  careless  form  o/e. 

5  et  grands.  9  Kittredge :  ici  non  fasse  point. 

6  de  garder  trestous.          10  Ne  se.  12  gardez  tote. 
t  roi  seit  ici  present. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   1 37 

Mayis  gardus J  voter  seneor  to  cor2  reyu<?rance  ; 

Car  elat  vottur  Roie  to  to  puysance.3 

Anoft  de  leo,4  pase  tos  !  je  vose  cumwande, 

E  lay  Roie  erott  la  grandeaboly  vos  vmport.6  485 

ERODE.     Qui  statis  6  in  Jude  et  Rex  Iseraell, 

And  the  myghttyst  conquerowre  Mat  eyu<?r  walkid  on 
ground  ; 

For  I  am  evyn  he  thatt  made  bothe  hevin  and  hell, 

And  of  my  myghte  powar  holdith  vp  this  world  rownd. 
Magog  and  Madroke,  bothe  Me[m]  did  I  confownde, 

And  wi\Ji  this  bryght  bronde  there  bonis  I  brak  on-sund^r, 

Thatt  all  the  wyde  worlde  on  those  rappis  did  wonder.  492 

I  am  the  cawse  of  this  grett  lyght  and  thunder  ; 

Ytt  ys  throgh  my  fure  thai  the[y]  soche  noyse  dothe 

make. 
My  feyrefull  contenance  Me  clowdis  so  doth  incu//zbur 

Thai  oftymus  for  drede  ther-ol  the  verre  yerth  doth 

quake. 

Loke,  when  I  w/t^  males  this  bryght  brond  doth  schake, 
All  the  whole  world  from  the  north  to  thz  sowthe 
I  ma  them  dystroie  wztA  won  worde  of  my  mowthe  !  499 

To  reycownt  vnto  you  myii  innevmerabull  substance,  — 

Thatt  were  to  moche  for  any  tong  to  tell  ; 
For  all  the  whole  Orent  ys  vnd^r  myn  obbeydeance, 

And  pry  nee  am  I  of  purgatorre  and  cheff  capten  of  hell ; 

And  those  tyraneos  trayturs  be  force  ma  I  compell7 
Myne  enmyis8  to  vanquese  #«</evyn  to  dust  them  dryve, 
And -with  a  twynke  of  myn  iee  not  won  to  be  lafte  alyve.  506 

1  A  preposition  before  the  indirect  object  seems  unnecessary. 

2  tote.  3  Sheldon  :  Car  il  est  votre  roi  tout  puissant. 
4  A  (=  au)  nom  de  lui  (Sheldon  suggests  loi  instead  o/lui). 

6  Sheldon  suggests  that  the  line  properly  ends  -with  grand  (modifying  Erott 
and  rhyming  -with  484),  —  diable  vos  emporte  !  being  merely  an  unattached 
pleasantry  addressed  to  the  audience. 

6  Qui  statis  is  in  red  in  S. 

7  Curl  over  m.  8  Curl  over  n. 


138       COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

Behold  my  contenance  and  my  colur, 

Bryghtur  then  the  sun  in  the  meddis  of  the.  dey. 

Where  can  you  haue  a  more  grettur  succur 

Then  to  behold  my  person  that  ys  soo  gaye  ? 

My  f awcun  and  my  f assion,  w/t^  my  gorgis  araye,  — 

He  thatt  had  the  grace,  all-wey  ther-on  to  thynke, 

Lyve  he 1  myght  all-wey  w/t^-owt  othur  mey te  or  drynke.          5 1 3 

And  thys  my  tryomfande  fame  most  hylist  dothe  a-bownde 
Throgh-owt  this  world  in  all  reygeons  abrod, 

Reysemelyng  the  fau^r  of  thatt  most  myght  Mahownd  ; 
From  Jubytor  be  desent  and  cosyn  to  the  grett  God, 
And  namyd  the  most  reydowndid  king  Eyrodde, 

Wyche  thatt  all  pryncis  hath  und^r  subjeccion 

And  all  there  whole  powar  vndur  my  pr^teccion.  520 

And  therefore,  my  hareode,  here,  callid  Calcas, 

Warne  thow  eyu^r[e]  porte  thatt  noo  schyppis  a-ryve, 
Nor  also  aleond  stranger  throg  my  realme  pas, 

But  the[y]  for  there  truage  do  pay  markis  fyve. 
Now  spede  the  forth  hastele, 
For  the[y]  thatt  wyll  the  contrare 
Apon  a  galowse  hangid  schalbe, 
And,  be  Mahownde,  of  me  the[y]  gett  noo  grace  !  528 

NONCIOS.     Now,  lord  and  mastur,  in  all  the  hast 

Thy  worethe  wyll  ytt  schall  be  wroght, 
And  thy  ryall  cuntreyis  schalbe  past 

In  asse  schort  tyme  ase  can  be  thoght.  532 

ERODE.     Now  schall  owre  regeons  throgh-owt  be  soght 

In  eyu<?r[e]  place  bothe  est  and  west ; 
Yff  any  katyffis  to  me  be  broght, 

Yt  schalbe  nothyng  for  there  best 

And  the  whyle  thatt  I  do  resst, 
Trompettis,  viallis  and  othur  armone 
Schall  bles  the  wakyng  of  my  mai<?ste.  539 

i  S.  the. 


PAGEANT    OF    THE    SHEARMEN    AND    TAYLORS.       139 
Here  Erod  goth  awey  and  the  iij  Kyngis  speykyth  in  th*  strete. 

i.  REX.     Now  blessid  be  God  of  his  swet  sonde, 

For  yondur  a  feyre  bryght  star  I  do  see  ! 
Now  ys  he  comon1  vs  a-monge, 

Asse  the  pr0fet2  seyd  thatt  yt  schuld  be.  543 

A  seyd3  there  schuld  a  babe  be  borne, 

Comyng  of  the  rote  of  Jesse, 
To  sawe  mankynd  that  wasse  for-lorne  ; 

And  truly  comew  now  ys  he.  547 

Reyu^rence  and  worschip  to  hym  woll  I  do 

Asse  God  and  man,  thatt  all  made  of  noght. 
All  the  pr<?fettis  acordid  and  seyd  evyn  soo, 

That  wit/t  hys  pr^sseos  blod  mankynd  schuld  be  boght.    551 

He  grant  me  grace, 

Be  yonder  star  thai  I  see,4 
And  in-to  thatt  place 

Bryng  me  5 

Thatt  I  ma  hym  worschipe  w/tA  umellete 
And  se  hys  gloreose  face.  557 

ii.  REX.     Owt  off  my  wey  I  deme  thatt  I  am, 

For  toocuns  of  thys  cuntrey  can  I  non  see  ; 
Now,  God,  thatt  on  yorth  madist  man, 

Send  me  sum  knoleyge  where  thatt  I  be !  561 

Yondur,  me  thynke,  a  feyre,  bryght  star  I  see, 

The  wyche  be-tocunyth  the  byrth  of  a  chyld 
Thatt  hedur  ys  cum  to  make  man  fre  ; 

He  borne  of  a  mayde,6  and  sche  nothyng  defyld.  565 

To  worschip  thatt  chyld  ys  myn  in-tent ; 

Forth  now  wyll  I  take  my  wey. 
I  trust  sum  cu»zpany  God  hathe  me  sent, 

For  yonder  I  se  a  kyng  labur  on  the  wey  ;  569 

1  Curl  over  m.  *  Lines  552,  553  as  one  in  S. 

2  S.  prrfettis.  5  Lines  554,  555  as  one  in  S. 

3  S.  Aseyd.  6  S.  amayde. 


I4O  .   COVENTRY    CORPUS    CHRISTI    PLAYS. 

To-warde  hym  now  woll  I  ryde. 

Harke  !  cumly  kyng,  I  you  pray, 
In-to  whatt  cost  wyll  ye  thys  tyde, 

Or  weddur  lyis  youre  jurney  ?  573 

I.  REX.     To  seke  a  chylde  ys  myne  in-tent 
Of  whom  the  protetis  hathe  ment  ; 

The  tyme  ys  cum,  now  ys  he  sent, 

Be  yondur  star  here  ma  [you]1  see. 

II.  REX.     Sir,  I  prey  you,  -with  your  lysence, 
To  ryde  with  you  vnto  his  presence  ; 

To  hym  wyll  I  offur  frank-in-sence, 

For  the  hed  of  all  Whole  Churche  schall  he  be.  581 

III.  REX.     I  ryde  wanderyng  in  veyis  wyde, 

Ouer  montens  and  dalis  ;  I  wot  not  where  I  am. 
Now,  Kyng  off  all  kyngis,  send  me  soche  gyde 

Thatt  I  myght  haue  knoleyge  of  thys  cuntreys  name.         585 

A  !  yondur  I  se  a  syght,  be  semyng  all  afar, 

The  wyche  be-tocuns  sum  nevis,  ase  I  troo  ; 
Asse  me  thynke,  a  chyld  peryng  in  a  stare. 

I  trust  he  be  cu*«  that,  schall  defend  vs  from  woo.  589 

To  kyngis  yondur  I  see, 

And  to  them  woll  I  ryde 
Forto  haue  there  cuwpane  ; 

I  trust  /#e[y]  wyll  me  abyde.2 
Hayle,  cu#zly  kyngis  augent !  8 
Good  surs,  I  pray  you,  whedd^r  ar  ye  ment?  595 

I.  REX.     To  seke  a  chylde  ys  owre  in-tent, 

Wyche  be-tocuns  yonder  star,  asse  ye  ma  see. 

II.  REX.     To  hym  I  purpose  thys  present. 

III.  REX.     Surs,  I  pray  you,  and  thatt  ryght  vmblee, 

Wz't^  you  thatt  I  ma  ryde  in  cuwpane. 

[?  ALL.]     To  all-myghte  God  now  prey  we 

Thatt  hys  pressiose  persone  we  ma  se.  602 

l  Supplied  by  S.        2  Lines  590-593  as  two  in  S.        s  Qy.  and  gent 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS. 


Here  Erode  cumytk  in  ageyne  and  the  messengere  seyth  : 

NUNCIOS.     Hayle,  lorde  most  off  myght ! 
Thy  comwandement  ys  right ; 
In-to  thy  land  ys  comyn  this  nyght 

iij  kyngis  and  w/t^  them  a  grett  cuwpany. 
EROD.     Whatt  make  those  kyngis  in  this  cuntrey? 
NONCIOS.     To  seke  a  kyng  and  a  chyld,  the[y]  sey. 

ERODE.     Of  whatt  age  schuld  he  bee  ? 

NONCIOS.     Skant  twellve  deyis  old  fulle.  610 

EROD.     And  wasse  he  soo  late  borne  ? 

NONCIOS.     E,  syr,  soo  the[y]  schode  me   thys  same  dey  in 

the  morne. 
EROD.     Now,  in  payne  of  deyth,  bryng  them  me  beforne  ; 

And  there-fore,  harrode,  now  hy  the  in  hast, 
In  all  spede  thatt  thou  were  dyght 

Or  thatt  those  kyngis  the  cuntrey  be  past  ; 
Loke  thow  bryng  them  all  iij  before  my  syght ;  61 7 

And  in  Jerusalem  *  inquere  more  of  that  chyld. 

But  I  warne  the  that  thy  wordis  be  mylde, 

For  there  must2  thow  hede  and  crafte  wey[lde] 

How  to  for-do  his  powere  ;  and  those  iij  kyngis  shalbe  begild.  621 

NONCIOS.     Lorde,  I  am  redde  att  youre  byddyng 
To  sarve  the  ase  my  lord  and  kyng  ; 
For  joye  there-of,  loo,  how  I  spryng 
With  lyght  hart  and  fresche  gamboldyng 

Alofte  here  on  this  molde  ! 
ERODE.     Then  sped  the  forthe  hastely, 
And  loke  ihat  thow  beyre  the  eyvinly  ; 
And  also  I  pray  the  hartely 
Thatt  thow  doo  comand  me 

Bothe  to  yong  and  olde.8  631 

1  S.  Jerusalem  2  5.  mast. 

•  Lines  629-631  as  two  in  S.,  the  first  ending  with  doo. 


142  COVENTRY    CORPUS    CHRISTI    PLAYS. 

[  The  messenger  goes  to  the  kings. ~\ 

NUNCIOS.     Hayle,  syr  kyngis,  in  youre  degre  ; 

Erood,  kyng  of  these  cuntreyis  wyde, 
Desyrith  to  speyke  w/t^  you  all  thre, 

And  for  youre  comyng  he  dothe  abyde.  635 

I.  REX.     Syr,  att  his  wyll  we  be  ryght  bayne. 

Hy  us,  brethur,  vnto  thatt  lordis  place  ; 
To  speyke  with  hym  we  wold  be  fayne  ; 

Thatt  chyld  thatt  we  seke,  he  grant  us  of  his  grace  !          639 

[They  go  to  Herod.'] 

NUNCIOS.     Hayle,  lorde  wz't^-owt  pere  ! 

These  iij  kyngis  here  have  we  broght. 
ERODE.     Now  welcuw,  syr  kyngis,  all  in-fere  ; 

But  of  my  bryght  ble,  surs,  bassche  ye  noght !  643 

Sir  kyngis,  ase  I  vndurstand, 

A  star  hathe  gydid  you  into  my  land, 

Where-in  grett  harting 1  ye  haue  fonde 

Be  reysun  of  hir  beym«j  bryght. 
Wherefore  I  pray  you  hartely 
The  vere  truthe  thatt  ye  wold  s^rtefy, 
How  long  yt  ys  surely 

Syn  of  that  star  you  had  furst  syght.  651 

I.  REX.     Szr  kynge,  the  vere  truthe  to  sey 

And  forto  schoo  you  ase  hit  ys  best, 
This  same  ys  evin  the  xijth  dey 

Syth  yt  aperid  to  vs  to  be  west.  655 

ERODE.     Brethur,  then  ys  there  no  more  to  sey, 
But  wz't/z  hart  and  wyll  kepe  ye  your  jurney 
And  cum  whom  by  me  this  same  wey, 
Of  your  nevis  thatt  I  myght  knoo. 

1  S.  harie. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   143 

You  schall  tryomfe  in  this  cuntre 

And  with  grett  conquorde  bankett  \vzth  me, 

And  tnatt  chyld  myself  then  woll  I  see 

And  honor  hym  also.  663 

ii.  REX.     Szr,  youre  comwandement  we  woll  fullfyll 
And  humbly  abaye  owreself  there-tyll.1 
He  thatt  weldith  all  thyng  at  wyll 

The  redde  way  hus  teyche,2 
S/r  kyng,  thatt  we  ma  passe  your  land  in  pes  ! 
ERODE.     Yes,  and  walke  softely  eyvin  at  your  one  es  ;  669 

Youre  pase-porte  for  a  C  deyis 

Here  schall  you  haue  of  clere  cumwand, 
Owre  reme  to  labur  any  weyis 

Here  schall  you  haue  be  spesschall  grante.  673 

in.  REX.     Now  fare-well,  kyng  of  hy  degre, 

Humbly  of  you  owre  leyve  we  take. 
ERODE.     Then  adev,  sir  kyngis  all  thre  ; 
And  whyle  I  lyve,  be  bold  of  me  ! 
There  ys  nothyng  in  this  cuntre 

But  for  youre  one  ye  schall  yt  take.  679 

[Exeunt  the  three  kings] 

Now  these  iij  kyngis  ar  gon  on  ther  wey  ; 

On-wysely  and  on-wyttely  haue  the[y]  all  wroghte. 
When  the[y]  cum  ageyne,  the[y]  schall  dy  that  same  dey, 

And  thus  these  vyle  wreychis  to  deyth  //*e[y]  schalbe  broght, — 

Soche  ys  my  lykyng. 
He  that  agenst  my  lawis  wyll  hold, 
Be  he  kyng  or  keysar  neyu^r  soo  bold, 
I  schall  them  cast  in-to  caris  cold 

And  to  deyth  I  schall  them  bryng.  688 

There  Erode  goth  his  weyis  and  the  iij  kyngis  cum  in  ageyne. 

I.  REX.     O  blessid  God,  moche  ys  thy  myght ! 

Where  ys  this  star  thatt  gawe  ys  lyght  ?  690 

i  Qy,  there-to.  2  Qy.  show. 


144        COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRIST  I  PLAYS. 

II.  REX.     Now  knele  we  downe  here  in  this  presence, 
Be-sekyng  that  Lord  of  hy  mangnefecens  * 
That  we  ma  see  his  hy  exsellence 

Yff  thatt  his  swet  wyll  be.2  694 

in.  REX.     Yondur,  brothur,  I  see  the  star, 
Where-by  I  kno  he  ys  nott  far  ; 
Therefore,  lordis,  goo  we  nar 

Into  this  pore  place.  698 

There  the  iij  kyngis  gois  in  to  thejesen,  to  Mare  and  hir  child. 

i.  REX.     Hayje,  Lorde  thatt  all  this  worlde  hath  wroght ! 

Hale,  God  and  man  to-gedur  in-fere  ! 
For  thow  hast  made  all  thyng  of  noght, 

Albe-yt  thatt  thow  lyist  porely  here ; 
A  cupe-full 8  golde  here  I  haue  the  broght 

hi  toconyng  thow  art  w/t^-owt  pere.  704 

II.  REX.     Hayle  be  thow,  Lorde  of  hy  mangnyffecens  !4 
In  toconyng  of  p?vste[h]od  and  dyngnete  of  offece 

To  the  I  offur  a  cupe  full  off  in-sence, 

For  yt  be-hovith  the  to  haue  soche  sacrefyce.  708 

in.  REX.     Hayle  be  thow,  Lorde  longe  lokid  fore ! 

I  haue  broght  the  myre  for  mortalete, 
In  to-cunyng  thow  schalt  mankynd  restore 

To  lyff  be  thy  deyth  apon8  a  tre.  712 

MARE.     God  haue  marce,  kyngis,  of  yowre  goodnes  ; 

Be  the  gydyng  of  the  godhed  hidd^r  are  ye  sent ; 
The  pr0vyssion  off  my  swete  sun  your  weyis  whom  6  reydres, 

And  gostely  reywarde  you  for  youre  present !  716 

[As  the  kings  go  away,  they  say :] 

I.  REX.     Syr  kyngis,  aftur  owre  primes 
Whome  be  Erode  I  mvst  nedis  goo. 

1  S.  maugnefecens.  *  S.  maugnyffecens. 

2  S.  wylbe.  6  Curl  over  n. 
8  S.  inserts  [of].  6  Curl  over  m. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   145 

II.  REX.     Now  truly,  brethur,1  we  can  noo  las. 

But  I  am  soo  for-wachid  -  I  wott  not  wat  to  do.  720 

in.  REX.     Ryght  soo  am  I  ;  where-fore  I  you  pray, 

Lett  all  vs  rest  vs  awhyle  upon  Ms  grownd. 
I.  REX.     Brethur,  youer  seying  ys  right  well  vnto  my  pay. 

The  grace  of  thatt  swet  chylde  saue  vs  all  sownde  !  724 

[While  they  sleep,  the  angel  appears.} 

ANGELLZAS1.     Kyng  of  Tawrus,  Sir  Jespar, 
Kyng  of  Arraby,  S/r  Balthasar, 
Melchor,  Kyng  of  Aginare, 

To  you  now  am  I  sent. 
For  drede  of  Eyrode,  goo  you  west  whom  ; 
In-to  those  parties  when  ye  cum  downe, 
Ye  schalbe  byrrid  wz't^  gret  reynowne  ; 

The  Wholle  Cost  thus  knoleyge  hath  sent.         [£*£(.]         732 

I.  REX.     Awake,  sir  kyngis,  I  you  praye, 

For  the  voise  of  an  angell  I  hard  in  my  dreyme. 

ii.  REX.     Thatt  ys  full  tru  thatt  ye  do  sey, 

For  he  reyherssid  owre  names  playne.  736 

in.  REX.     He  bad  thatt  we  schuld  goo  downe  be  west 

For  drede  of  Eyrodis  fawls  be-traye. 
I.  REX.     Soo  forto  do  yt  ys  the  best ; 

The  child  that  we  haue  soght,  gyde  vs  the  wey  !  740 

Now  fare-well,  the  feyrist,  of  schapp  so  swete  ! 

And  thankid  be  Jhtf.ru  of  his  sonde, 
That  we  iij  to-ged^r  soo  suddenly  schuld  mete, 

Thatt  dwell  soo  wyde  and  in  straunge  lond,  744 

And  here  make  owre  presentacion 

Vnto  this  kyngis  son  clensid.soo  cleyne 
And  to  his  mod^r  for  ovre  saluacion ; 

Of  moche  myrth  now  ma  we  meyne, 
Thatt  we  soo  well  hath  done  this  obblacion.  749 

1  S.  berthur.  2  5.  far  wachid. 


146       COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

II.  REX.     Now  farewell,  Sz'r  Jaspar,  brothur,  to  yoeu, 

Kyng  of  Tawrus  the  most  worthe  ; 
Szr  Balthasar,  also  to  you  I  bow ; 

And  I  thanke  you  bothe  of  youre  good  cuwzpany 

Thatt  we  togeddur  haue  had. 
He  thatt  made  vs  to  mete  on  hyll, 
I  thanke  hym  now  and  eyuer  I  wyll ; 
For  now  may  we  goo  wzt^-owt  yll, 

And  off  owre  offerynge  be  full  glad.1  758 

in.  REX.     Now  syth  thatt  we  mvst  nedly  goo 
For  drede  of  Erode  thatt  ys  soo  wrothe, 
Now  fare-well  brothur,  and  brothur  also, 
I  take  my  leve  here  at  you  bothe 

This  dey  on  fete.2 

Now  he  thatt  made  vs  to  mete  on  playne 
And  off ur  8  to  Mare  in  hir  jeseyne, 
He  geve  vs  grace  in  heyvin  a-gayne 

All  to-geyd^r  to  mete  !  767 

\They  go  out,  and  Herod  and  his  train  occupy  the  pageant .] 

NlWClOS.     Hayle,  kyng,  most  worthist  in  wede  ! 

Hayle,  manteinar  of  curtese4  throgh  all  this  world  wyde  ! 
Hayle,  the  most  myghtyst  that  eyuer  bestrod  a  stede  ! 

Ha[y]ll,5  most  monfullist  mon  in  armor  man  to  abyde  ! 

Hayle,  in  thyne  hoonowre  ! 
Thesse  iij  kyngis  thai  forthe  were  sent 
And  schuld  haue  cum  ageyne  before  the  here  present, 
Anothur  wey,  lorde,  whom  the[y]  went, 

Contrare  to  thyn  honowre.  776 

ERODE.     A-nothur  wey  ?  owt !  owt !  owtt ! 

Hath  those  fawls  traytvrs  done  me  this  ded  ? 
I  stamp  e  !  I  stare  !  I  loke  all  abowtt ! 

l  S.  fayne.  2  s.  fote.  »  S.  offurde. 

4  The  contraction  here  is  really  that  for  er,  but  it  has  already  occurred 
about  a  dozen  times  in  -words  like  togedsr.  6  Corr.  by  S. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   147 

Myght  I  them  take,  I  schuld  them  bren  at  a  glede ! 
1  rent  !  I  rawe  !  and  now  run  I  wode  ! 
A  !  thatt  these  velen  trayturs  hath  mard  this  my  mode  ! 

The[y]  schalbe  hangid  yf  I  ma  cum  them  to  !  783 

Here  Erode  ragis  in  th*  pagond  and  in  the  strete  also. 

E  !  and  thatt  kerne  of  Bedlem,  he  schalbe  ded 

And  thus  schall  I  for-do  his  pr^fece.  785 

How  sey  you,  sz'r  knyghtis  ?  ys  not  this  the  best  red, 
Thatt  all  yong  chyldur  for  this  schuld  be  dede, 

Wyth  sworde  to  be  slayne  ? 
Then  schall  I,  Erod,  lyve  in  lede, 
And  all  folke  me  dowt  and  drede, 
And  offur  to  me  bothe  gold,  rychesse  and  mede ; 

Thereto  wyll  the[y]  be  full  fayne.  792 

I.  MYLES.     My  lorde  kyng,  Erode  be  name, 

Thy  wordis  agenst  my  wyll  schalbe  ; 
To  see  soo  ma«y  yong  chyldur  dy  ys  schame, 

Therefore  consell  ther-to  gettis  tho\i  non  of  me.  796 

ii.  MYLES.     Well  seyd,  fello,  my  trawth  I  plyght. 

Sz'r  kyng,  p^rseyve  right  well  you  may, 
Soo  grett  a  mord^r  to  see  of  yong  frute 

Wyll  make  a  rysyng  in  th\  noone  cuntrey.  800 

ERODE.     A  rysyng?     Owt !  owt !  owt !  80 1 

There  Erode  ragis  ageyne  and  then  seyth  thus: 

Owt  !  velen  wrychis,  har  apon  you  I  cry  ! 

My  wyll  vtturly  loke  that  yt  be  wroght, 
Or  apon  a  gallowse  bothe  you  schall  dy, 

Be  Mahownde  most  myghtyste,  that  me  dere  hath  boght,    805 

I.  MYLES.     Now,  cruell  Erode,  syth  we  schall  do  this  dede  ! 

Your  wyll  nedefully  in  this  realme  mvste  be  wroght ; 
All  the  chyldur  of  that  age  dy  the[y]  mvst  nede  ; 

Now  with  all  my  myght  the[y]  schall  be  vpsoght.  809 


148      COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

II.  MYLES.     And  I  woll  sweyre  here  apon  your  bryght  swerde,1 
All  the  chyld^r  thatt  I  fynd,  sclayne  /^e[y]  schalbe  ; 

Thatt  make  many  a  mod^r  to  wepe  and  be  full  sore  aferde 2 

In  owre  armor  bryght  when  the[y]  hus  see.  813 

ERODE.     Now  you  have  sworne,  forthe  that  ye  goo, 

And  my  wyll  thatt  ye  wyrke  bothe  be  dey  and  nyght, 

And  then  wyll  I  for  fayne  trypp  lyke  a  doo. 

But  whan  the[y]  be  ded  I  warne  you  bryng  [t]ham  be-fore 

my  syght.  817 

\Herod  and  his  train  go  away,  and  Joseph  and  Mary  are,  while  asleep, 
addressed  by  an  angel.'] 

ANGELLt/6".     Mare  and  Josoff,  to  you  I  sey, 

Swete  word  from  the  Fathur  I  bryng  you  full  ryght : 
Owt  of  Bedlem  in-to  Eygype  forth  goo  ye  the.  wey 
And  wz't/z  you  take  the  King,  full  of  myght, 

For  drede  of  Eroddis  redtf  ! 
JOSOFF.     A-ryse  up,  Mare,  hastely  and  sone  ; 
Owre  Lordis  wyll  nedys  mvst  be  done, 

Lyke  ase  the  angell  vs  bad.  825 

MARE.     Mekely,  Josoff,  my  none  spowse, 

Towarde  that  cuntrey  let  vs  reypeyre  ; 
Att  Eygyp  8  to  sum  cun  8  off  howse, 

God  grant  hus  grace  saff  to  cum  there  !  829 

Here  the  -weinen  cum  in  wythe  there  chyldiir,  syngyng  them  ;  *  and  Mare 
and  Josoff  goth  aiuey  cleyne. 

I.  WOMON.     I  lolle  my  chylde  wondursly  swete, 
And  in  my  narmwj  I  do  hyt  kepe, 

Be-cawse  thatt  yt  schuld  not  crye. 

II.  WOMAN.     Thatt  babe  thatt  ys  borne  in  Bedlem,  so  meke, 

He  saue  my  chyld  and  me  from  velany  !  834 

in.  WOMAN.     Be  styll,  be  styll,  my  lyttull  chylde  ! 
That  Lorde  of  lordis  saue  bothe  the  and  me  ! 

1  S.  sworde.  *~8  S.  sum  tocun  ;  emend,  by  Kittredge. 

2  Two  tines  in  S.  4  For  the  song,  see  p.  151. 


PAGEANT    OF    THE    SHEARMEN    AND    TAYLORS.       149 

For  Erode  hath  sworne  wit/i  wordis  wyld 

Thatt  all  yong  chyldur  sclayne  /^e[y]  schalbe.  838 

i.  MYLES.     Sey,  ye  wyddurde  wyvis,  whydd^r  ar  ye  a-wey? 

What  beyre  you  in  youre  armus  nedis  mvst  we  se. 
Yff  the[y]  be  man- chyldur,1  dy  the[y]  mvst  this  dey, 

For  at  Eroddis  wyll  all  thyng  mvst  be.  842 

II.  MYLES.     And  I  in  handis  wonys  them2  hent, 

Them  forto  sley  noght  woll  I  spare  ; 
We  mvst  full-fyll  Erodis  comwandement, 

Elis  be  we  asse  trayturs  and  cast  all  in  care.  846 

i.  WOMAN.     Sir  knyghtis,  of  youre  curtessee, 
Thys  dey  schame  not  youre  chevaldre, 
But  on  my  chyld  haue  pytte 

For  my  sake  in  this  styde  ; 
For  a  sympull  sclaghtur  yt  were  to  sloo 
Or  to  wyrke  soche  a  chylde  woo, 
Thai  can  nod^r  speyke  nor  goo, 

Nor  neuer  harme  did.  854 

II.  WOMAN.     He  thatt  sleyis  my  chyld  in  syght, 
Yff  thatt  my  strokis  on  hym  ma  lyght, 
Be  he  skwyar  or  knyght, 

I  hold  hym  but  lost. 
Se,  thow  fawls  losyngere, 
A  stroke  schalt  thow  beyre  me  her*? 

And  spare  for  no  cost.  86 1 

in.  WOMAN.     Sytt  he  neyu<?r  soo  hy  in  saddull, 
But  I  schall  make  his  braynis  addull, 
Ana7  here  \viih  my  pott-ladull 

Wz't^  hym  woll  I  fyght. 

I  schall  ley  on  hym  a[s]  thogh  8  I  wode  were, 
W/t^  thys  same  womanly  geyre  ; 
There  schall  noo  man  steyre, 

Wheddur  thatt  he  be  kyng  or  knyght.  869 

1  Curl  over  n.  2  Curl  over  m.  3  S.  athog. 


I5O       COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

i.  MYLES.     Who  hard  eyuer  soche  a  cry 

Of  wemen  thatt  there  chyldur  haue  lost, 
And  grettly  reybukyng  chewaldry 

Throgh-owt  this  reme  in  eyu^re  1  cost, 

Wyche  many  a  mans  lyff  ys  lyke  to  cost  ? 
For  thys  grett  wreyche  tha\.  here  ys  done 
I  feyre  moche  wengance  ther-oft  woll  cum.  876 

n.  MYLES.     E  !  brothur,  soche  talis  may  we  not  tell ; 

Where-fore  to  the  kyng  lett  vs  goo, 
For  he  ys  lyke  to  beyre  the  pmjll, 

Wyche  wasse  the  cawser  that  we  did  soo. 

Yett  must  the[y]  all  be  broght  hym  to 
Wz't^  waynis  and  waggyns  fully  fryght  ; 
I  tro  there  wolbe  a  carefull  syght.  883 

\They  go  to  Herod.] 

I.  MYLES.     Loo  !  Eyrode,  kyng,  here  mast  thow  see 

How  many  M'  thatt  we  haue  slayne. 

II.  MYLES.     And  nedis  thy  wyll  full-fyllid  must  be  ; 

There  ma  no  mon  sey  there-ageyne.  887 

[Enter  Nuntius.~\ 

Nuncios.     Eyrode,  kyng,  I  schall  the  tell, 

All  thy  dedis  ys  cum  to  noght ; 
This  chyld  ys  gone  in-to  Eygipte  to  dwell. 

Loo  !  sz'r,  in  thy  none  land  what  wondurs  byn  wroght  !     891 

EROD.     Into  Eygipte?  alas,  for  woo  ! 

Lengur  in  lande  here  I  canot  abyde  ; 
Saddull  my  palfrey,  for  in  hast  wyll  I  goo, 
Aftur  yondur  trayturs  now  wyll  I  ryde, 

Them  for  to  sloo. 
Now  all  men  hy  fast 
In-to  Eygipte  in  hast ! 
All  thatt  cuntrey  woll  I  tast, 

Tyll  I  ma  cum  them  to.  900 

1  S.  eyue«y. 


PAGEANT  OF  THE  SHEARMEN  AND  TAYLORS.   !$! 

Fynes  lude  de  taylars  and  scharmen. 

Tys  *  matter  /  nevly  correcte  be  Robart  Croo  /  the  xiiij*  dey 
of  marche  /  fenysschid  in  the  yere  of  owre  lorde  god  /  MCCCCC 
&  xxxiiijte  /  then  beyng  mayre  mastur  Palmar  /  also  mastris  of 
the  seyd  fellyschipp  Hev  Corbett  /  Randull  Pynkard  and  /  John 
Baggeley. 


Theise  Songes  /  belonge  to  /  the  Taylors-  and  Shearemens 
Pagant.  /  The  first  and  the  laste  the  Shepheards  singe  /  and  the 
second  or  middlemost  the  Women  singe. 


THOMAS  MAWDYCKE  /  die  decimo  tertio  Maij  anno  Aomim  mil- 
lessimo  quingentesimo  nonagesimo  primo.  /  Praetor  fuit  ciuitatis 
Couentriae  D.  Mathaeus2  Richardson,  tune  Consoles  /  Johanes 
Whitehead  et  Thomas  Crauener. 


SONG  I. 

As  I  out  rode  this  enderes  night, 

Of  thre  ioli  sheppardes  I  saw  a  sight, 

And  all  a-bowte  there  fold  a  star  shone  bright ; 

They  sange  terli  terlow  ; 

So  mereli  the  sheppards  ther  pipes  can  blow. 

SONG  II. 

Lully,  lulla,  thow  littell  tine  child, 
By  by,  lully,  lullay,  thow  littell  tyne  child, 
By  by,  lully,  lullay/ 

1  S.  T[h]ys.  2  S.  Mathaens. 


152       COVENTRY  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

O  sisters  too, 
How  may  we  do l 

For  to  preserve  Mis  day 
This  pore  yongling 
For  whom  we  do  singe l 

By  by,  lully,  lullay  ?  6 

Herod,  the  king, 
In  his  raging,1 

Chargid  he  hath  this  day 
His  men  of  might 
In  his  owne  sight x 

All  yonge  children  to  slay, —  12 

That  wo  is  me, 
Pore  child,  for  thee,1 

And  ever  morne  and  may2 
For  thi  parting 
Nether  say  nor  singe,1 

By  by,  lully,  lullay.  1 8 

SONG  III. 

Doune  from  heave«,  from  heave«  so  hie, 
Of  angeles  Mer  came  a  great  companie,8 
With  mirthe  and  ioy  and  great  solemnitye, 

The[y]  sange  terly  terlow, 
So  mereli  the  sheppards  th&v  pipes  ca«  blow.  5 

1  This  and  the  preceding  as  one  line  in  S, 

2  S.  say ;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 
8  Curl  over  m. 


YORK   CORPUS   CHRISTI   PLAYS. 


Reprinted  from  "  York  Plays  .  .  .  ed.  [Miss]  Lucy  Toulmin  Smith,  Clarendon 
Press,  1885."  In  the  footnotes,  Y.  indicates  this  edition,  which,  unless  the  contrary 
is  stated,  represents  the  MS. ;  Ha.  indicates  J.  Hall's  review,  Englische  Studien,  IX, 
484  ff. ;  He.  indicates  "Studien  zu  den  York  Plays,  von  O.  Herttrich.  Breslau, 
1886";  Ho.  indicates  F.  Holthausen's  emendations,  A rchiv  fur  das  Studium  der 
newren Sprachen,  LXXXV,  411  ff.,  LXXXVI,  280  ff.,  and  "  Philologische  Studien  ; 
Festgabe  fur  Eduard  Sievers,  Halle,  1896,"  30  ff . ;  K.  indicates  E.  Kolbing's  emen- 
dations, Englische  Studien,  XX,  179  ff . ;  T.  indicates  the  corresponding  play  in  the 
Towneley  cycle,  but  its  readings  are  only  occasionally  recorded. 


[THE  RESURRECTION.] 

[Enter  Pilatus,  Cayphas,  and  A  nna  with  attendants^ 

PIL.     Lordingis,  listenys  nowe  vnto  me, 
I  comaunde  3011,  in  ilke  degre  ; 
Als  domesman  chiffe  in  th\s>  centre, 

For  counsaill  kende, 
Atte  my  bidding  3011  awe  to  be 

And  baynly  bende.  6 

And,  sir  Cayphas,  chiffe  of  clergye, 
Of  youre  counsaill  late  here  in  hye, 
By  cure 1  assente  sen  we  dyd  dye 

Ihesus  this  day, 
7%at  we  2  mayntayne  —  and  stand  Merby  — 

Th-&\.  werke  all-way.  12 

CAYPH.     Jis,  sir,  />fcat  dede  schall  we  mayntayne ; 
By  lawe  it  was  done  all  be-dene, 

l  He.  K.  joure.  2  K.  Yff  36. 


154         YORK  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

3e  wotte  youre-selue,  with-outen  wene, 

Als  wele  as  we. 
His  sawes  are  nowe  vppon  hym  sene, 

And  ay  schall  be.  18 

ANNA.     The.  pepull,  sir,1  in  Mis  same  steede 
Be-fore  3011  saide  with  a  hole  hede 
That  he  was  worthy  to  be  dede, 

And  Merto  sware. 
Sen  all  was  rewlid  by  right[w]is  2  rede, 

Nevyn  it  nomore.  24 

PIL.     To  neuyn  me  thinketh  it  nedfull  thyng  ; 
Sen  he  was  hadde  to  beriyng, 
Herde  we  nowthir  of  olde  ne  jing 

Tidynges  s  be-twene. 
CAYPH.     Centurio,  sir,  will  tidingis  bringe  4 

Of  all  be-dene.  30 

We  lefte  hym  Mere  for  man  moste  wise, 
If  any  rebelles  5  wolde  ought  rise 
Oure  rightwise  dome  for  to  dispise 

Or  it  offende, 
To  sese  Mame  till  Me  nexte  assise 

And  Man  make  ende.  36 

[Enter  Centurio.] 

CENT.     \To  himself.']    A  !  blissid  Lorde  Adonay, 
What  may  Mes  meruayles  signifie 
That  her  was  schewed  so  oppinly 

Vn-to  oure  sight 
This  day  whanne  Mat  Me  man  gune  dye 

That  Ihesus  highte  ?  42 

1  Y.  sirs.  8  Y.  Thithynges ;   Ho.  Tithynges. 

2  Corr.  by  Ha.  6  T.  has  rybaldes. 
*  Y.  bringe  thidingis  ;  Ho.  bringe  tiding. 


THE    RESURRECTION.  155 

Itt  is  a  misty  thyng  to  mene  ; 

So  selcouth  a  sight  was  neuere  sene, 

7%at 1  oure  princes  and  prestis  be-dene 

Of  this  affray 
I  woll  go  weten,  with-outen  wene, 

What  th&i  can  saye.  48 

[He  salutes  Pilate  and  the  priests."} 

God  saue  3011,  sirs,  on  ilke  a  side ! 
Worschippe  and  welthe  in  worldis  wide 
With  mekill  mirthe  myght  36  abide 

Both  2  day  and  nyght ! 
PIL.     Centurio,  welcome  this  tide, 

Oure  comely  knyght !  54 

3e  haue  bene  miste  vs  here  8  among. 

CENT.     God  giffe  you  grace  grathely  to  gang  ! 

PIL.     Centurio,  [ojure  frende  full  lang, 

What  is  your  will  ? 
CENT.     I  drede  me  Mat  36  haue  done  wrang 

And  wondir  ill.  60 

CAYPH.     Wondir  ill  ?  I  pray  Me,  why  ? 

Declare  it  to  Mis  company. 

CENT.     So  schall  I,  sirs,  telle  }ou  trewly, 

With-owten  trayne  : 
Tht  rightwise  mane  Manne  mene  I  by 

7%at  36  haue  slayne.  66 

PIL.  Centurio,  sesse  of  such  sawe. 
7%ou  arte  a  lered  man  in  Me  lawe, 
And  if  we  schulde  any  witnes  drawe 

Vs  to  excuse, 
To  mayntayne  vs  euermore  Me  4  awe 

And  no3t  reffuse.  72 

1  K.  inserts  to. 

2  Y.  Boght ;  corr.  by  K.     The  -whole  line  is  in  a  later  hand  than  the 
rest  of  the  MS. 

*  K.  reads  here  vs.  *  Ho.  reads  ye. 


156  YORK    CORPUS    CHRISTI    PLAYS. 

CENT.     To  mayntayne  trouthe  is  wele  worMi ; 
I  saide  3011,  whenne  I  sawe  hym  dy, 
T^at  he  was  Goddis  sone  Almyghty 

7%at  hanged1  More  ; 
^itt  sale  I  soo,  and  stande  Merby 

For-euermore.  78 

CAYPH.     3a»  s'iri  such  reasouns  may  ^e  rewe. 
^e  schulde  noght  neueyn  such  note  enewe2 
But  36  couthe  any  tokenyngis  trewe 

Vnto  vs  tell. 
CENT.     Such  woundirfull  cas  neuere  }it  }e  knewe 

As  now  befell.  84 

ANNA.     We  pray  Me,  tell  vs  of  what  thyng. 
CENT.     All  elementis,  both  olde  and  jing, 
In  ther  maneres  Mai  made  mornyng 

In  ilke  a  stede  ; 
And  knewe,  be  countenaunce,  Mat  Mer  kyng 

Was  done  to  dede.  90 

The  sonne  for  woo  he  waxed  all  wanne  ; 
7%e  mone  and  sterres  of  schynyng  blanne  ; 
The.  erthe  tremeled  and  also  manne  8 

Be-gan  to  speke ; 
Tho.  stones  Mat  neuer  was  stered  or  Manne 

Gune  4  a-sondir  breke  ;  96 

And  dede-men  rose,  both  grete  and  small. 

PIL.     Centurio,  be-ware  with-all  ! 

3e  wote  oure  clerkis  Me  clipsis  Mei  call 

Such  sodayne  sight. 
Both  sonne  and  mone  Mat  sesonne  6  schall 

Lak  of  Mer  light.  102 

1  Y.  hangeth ;  corr.  by  K.  4  Qy.  omit  Gun^. 

2  T.  has  notes  newe.  6  Ho.  sesoune. 

8  T.  And  erthe  it  tremlyd  as  a  man ;  qy.  And  erthe  it  tremeled  as  the  man. 


THE    RESURRECTION.  I  57 

CAYPH.     3a»  and  ^  dede  men  rose  bodily, 
7%at  myght  be  done  thurgh  so[r]cery  ; l 
T^erfore  we  sette  no  thyng  Merby, 

To  be  abaiste. 
CENT.     All  Mat  I  tell,  for  trewthe  schall  I 

Euermpre  traste.  108 

For2  this  ilke  werk  Mat  36  did  wirke 
Nought  allone  the.  sonne  was  mirke, 
But  howe  youre  vaile  raffe  in  youre  kirke 

That  witte  I  wolde. 
PIL.     Swilke  tales  full  sone  will  make  vs  irke 

And  Mei  be  talde.  114 

ANNA.     Centurio,  such  speche  withdrawe  ; 

Of  all  Mes  wordes  we  haue  none  awe. 

CENT.     Nowe,  sen  $e  sette  noght  be  my  sawe, 

Sirs,  haue  gode  day  ! 
God  8  graunte  you  grace  Mat  36  may  knawe 

The.  soth  alway.  120 

ANNA.     With-drawe  Me  faste,  sen  Mou  Me  dredis, 

For  we  schall  wele  mayntayne  oure  dedis.  {Exit  Centun'o.] 

PIL.     Such  wondir  reasouns  as  he  redis 

Was  neuere  beforne. 
CAIPH.     To  neven  Mis  noote  no  more  vs  nedis, 

NowMere  even  ne  morne.  126 

7>fcerfore  loke  nomanne  make  ille  *  chere. 
All  Mis  doyng  may  do  no  dere  ; 
But  to  be-ware  }itt  of  more  were 

7%at  folke  may  fele, 
We  pray  you,  sirs,  of  Mes  sawes  sere 

Avise  3ou  wele.  132 

1  Corr.  by  K. ;  but  socery  occurs  often.  8  Supplied  by  K. 

2  Y.  In ;  T.  Not  for.  *  Y.  ilke ;  corr.  by  Ho. 


158         YORK  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

And  to  this  tale  takes  hede  in  hye, 

For  lesu  saide  even  opynly 

A  thyng  Mat  greues  all  this  Jury, 

And  ri^te  so  may,  —  . 

Thai  he  schulde  rise  vppe  bodily 

With-in 1  the  thirde  day.  138 

And  be  it  so,  als  motte  I  spede, 
His  lattar  deede  is  more  to  drede 
Than,  is  the  firste,  if  we  take  hede 

Or  tente  therio. 
To  neuyn  this  noote  me  thynke  maste  nede 

And  beste  to  do.  144 

ANNA,     ^a,  sir,  all  if-2  thai  he  saide  soo, 
He  has  no  myght  to  rise  and  goo. 
But  if  his  menne  stele  hym  vs  froo 

And  bere  away, 
Th at  were  tille  us  and  other  moo 

A  foule  [ajffraye  ;8  150 

For  Manne  wolde  thoi  saie,  euere-ilkone, 
Thai  he  roose  by  hym-selffe  allone ; 
T^erfore  latte  hym  be  kepte  anone 

With  knyghtes  hende, 
Vnto  thre  daies  be  comen  and  gone 

And  broght  till  ende.  1 56 

PIL.     In  certayne,  sirs,  right  wele  }e  saie  ; 
For  this  ilke  poynte  nowe  [to]  4  purvaye, 
I  schall  ordayne,  if  that 5  I  may, 

He  schall  not  ryse, 
Nor  none  schalle  wynne  hym  thtns  away 

On  no-kyns  wise.  162 

1  Kittredge  suggests  On.  3  K.  T.  enffraye.  *  Y. 

«Y.  if  all.  6K.;  Y.  if;  Ho.  it  if. 


THE    RESURRECTION.  I  59 

[He  speaks  to  the  soldiers^ 

Sir  knyghtis,  //fcat  are  in  dedis  dowty, 
Chosen  for  chiffe  of  cheualrye, 
As  we  ay  in  youre  force  affie 

Bo/^e  day  and  nyght, 
1  Wendis  and  kepis  Jesu  body 

With  all  youre  myghte  ;  1 68 

And  for  thyng  //#at  euere  be  maye 
Kepis  hym  wele  to  th&  thirde  day, 
And  lads  noman  take  2  hym  away 

Oute  of  Mat  stede  ; 
For,  and  Mei  do,  suthly  I  saie, 

3e  schall  be  dede.  174 

i.  MILES.     Lordingis,  we  saie  3011  for  certayne, 
We  schall  kepe  hym  with  myght 8  and  mayne ; 
Th&r  schall  no  traitoures  with  no  trayne 

Stele  hym  vs  froo. 
Sir  knyghtis,  takis  gere  th?A.  moste  may  gayne, 

And  lates  vs  goo.  1 80 

II.  MIL.     3^s>  certis,  we  are  all  redy  bowne  ; 
We  schall  hym  kepe  till  oure  rennowne. 

[The  soldiers  go  to  the  Sepulchre^ 

On  ilke  a  side  latte  vs  sitte  doune 

Now  all  in-fere, 
And  fownde  4  we  schall  to  5  crake  his  croune, 

Whoso  comes  here.  1 86 

[The  soldiers  sit  down  and  fall  asleep^ 

Tune  "lesu  resurgente."  6 

1  K.  prefixes  Ye.  3  Y.  myghtis ;  corr.  by  K. 

2  Y.  takis ;  corr.  by  Ho.  *  K. ;  Y.  sone.  5  Qtn.  Y. 

6  Miss  Smith  says:  "  The  marginal  note  in  later  hand  here,  '  tune  angelus 
cantat  Resurgens.'  See  lines  383-386."  This  is  supported  by  T.,  which  has: 
"  Tune  cantabunt  angeli '  Jesus  resurgens.'  " 


I6O  YORK   CORPUS    CHRISTI    PLAYS. 


[Enter  the  three  Marys  going  to  the 

I.  MAR.     Alias  !  to  dede  I  wolde  be  dight, 
So  woo  in  worlde  *  was  neuere  wight  ; 
Mi  sorowe  is  all  for  Mat  sight 

Th  at  I  gune  see, 
Howe  Criste,  my  maistir,  moste  of  myght, 

Is  dede  fro  me.  192 

Alias,  Mat  I  schulde  se  his  pyne, 
Or  yit  Mat  I  his  2  liffe  schulde  tyne  ! 
Of  ilke  a  myscheue  he  is  8  medicyne 

And  bote  of  all, 
Helpe  and  halde  to  ilke  a  hyne 

On  hym  wolde  call.4  198 

n.  MAR.     Alias  !  who  schall  my  balis  bete, 
Whanne  I  thynke  on  his  woundes  wete  ? 
Jesu,  Mat  was  of  loue  so  swete 

And  neuere  did  ill, 
Es  dede  and  grauen  vnder  Me  grete 

With-outen  skill.  204 

in.  MAR.     With-owten  skill  Me  Jewes  ilkone 
7%at  louely  lorde  has  newly  slone,5 
And  trespasse  did  he  neuere  none 

In  no-kyn  steede. 
To  whome  nowe  schall  I  make  my  mone, 

Sen  he  is  dede?  210 

I.  MAR.     Sen  he  is  dede,  my  sisteres  dere, 

Wende  we  will  on  mylde  manere, 

With  oure  a-noynementis  f  aire  and  clere 

T^at  we  haue  broght, 
To  noynte  his  wondis,  on  sides  sere 

Jewes  hym  wroght.  216 


1  Y.  werke ;  T.  warld ;  pointed  out  by  He. 
8  Ho.  my.  8  Ho.  T.  was. 

*  MS.  Mat  on  hym  on  wolde  call ;  corr.  by  Y. 
•K.  T.;  Y.slayne. 


THE    RESURRECTION.  l6l 

II.  MAR.1     Goo  we  same,  my  sisteres  free. 
Full  sare  2  vs  longis  his  corse  to  see, 
But  I  wotte  noght  howe  beste  may  be  ; 

Helpe  haue  we  none, 
And  who  schall  nowe  here  of  vs  thre 

Remove  the.  stone  ?  222 

in.  MAR.     7%at  do  we  noght  but  we  wer  moo, 

For  it  is  huge  and  heuy  also. 

I.  MAR.     Sisteris  !  a  ^onge  child,  as  we  goo 

Makand  mornyng, 
I  see  it  sitte  wher  we  wende  to, 

In  white  clothyng.  228 

n.  MAR.     Sisters,  sertis,  it  is  noght  to  hide, 

The  heuy  stone  is  putte  beside  ! 

in.  MAR.     Sertis,  for  thyng  Mat  may  be-tyde 

Nere  will  we  wende, 
To  layte  Mat  luffely  and  with  hym  bide 

7%at  was  cure  ffrende.  234 

•  \Theyapproach  nearer  the  Sepulchre^ 

ANGEL.     3e  niournand  women  in  youre  /bought, 
Here  in  Mis  place  whome  haue  36  sought  ? 
I.  MAR.     Jesu,  Mat  unto8  dede  was4  brought, 

Oure  Lord  so  free. 
ANG.     Women,  certayne  here  is  he  noght ; 

Come  nere  and  see.  240 

He  is  noght  here,  the  soth  to  saie  ; 
The  place  is  voide  Mat  he  in  laye. 
The  sudary  here  se  36  may, 
Was  on  hym  laide. 
He  is  resen  and  wente  his  6  way, 

As  he  jou  saide.  246 

1  Y. ;  MS.  Prima  Maria ;  see  Notes.  *  T. ;  Y.  is. 

2  Y.  faire ;  T.  sore ;  pointed  out  by  He.  5  MS.  repeats  his. 
8K.  T.;  Y.to. 


1  62         YORK  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

Euen  as  he  saide,  so  done  has  hee  ; 
He  is  resen  thurgh  grete  poostee. 
He  schall  be  foune  in  Galile, 

In  flesshe  and  fell. 
To  his  discipilis  nowe  wende  ^e, 

And  thus,  Mame  tell.  252 

i.  MAR.     Mi  sisteres  dere,  sen  it  is  soo, 

7%at  he  is  resen  dede  thus  froo, 

As  the  aungell  tolde  me  and  yow  too,  — 

Oure  lorde  so  free,  — 
Hens  1  will  I  neuer  goo 

Or  I  hym  see.  258 

n.  MAR.     Marie,  vs  thare  no  lenger  lende  ;2 

To  Galile  nowe  late  vs  wende. 

i.  MAR.     Nought  tille  I  see  Mat  faithfull  frende, 

Mi  lorde  andleche. 
T^erfore  all  Mis,  my  sisteres  hende, 

forth  preche.8  264 


in.  MAR.     As  we  haue  herde,  so  schall  we  saie. 

Marie  oure  sistir,  haue  goode  daye  ! 

i.  MAR.     Nowe  verray  God,  as  he  wele  maye, 

Man  most  of  myght,4  267  a 

He  wisse  you,  sisteres,  wele  in  youre  waye 

And  rewle  $ou  right  !  269 

[Exeunt  second  and  third  Marys.] 

Alias  !  what  schall  nowe  worMe  on  me  ? 
My  kaytiffe  herte  will  breke  in  three 
Whenne  I  thynke  on  Mat  body  free, 

How  it  was  spilte, 
Both  feete  and  handes  nayled  tille  a  tre, 

Withouten  gilte  !  275 

1  He.  wishes  to  insert  f  urthe. 

2MS.  layne;  corr.by\. 

»  Ho.  T.  Loke  Mat  je  preche. 

*  Line  missing  in  MS.  ;  supplied  by  Y.  from  T. 


THE    RESURRECTION.  163 

With-outen  gilte  Me  trewe  was  tane, 

For  trespas  did  he  neuere  nane. l 

Thz  woundes  he  suffred,  —  many  ane,  —  8 

Was  for  my  misse  ; 
It  was  my  dede  8  he  was  for  slayne  * 

And  no-thyng  his.  281 

How  might  I,  but  I  loued  Mat  swete, 
7%at  for  my  loue  tholed  woundes  wete 
And  sithen  be  grauen  vndir  Me  grete, 

Such  kyndnes  kithe  ? 
Th&r  is  no-thing  to  Mat  we  mete 

May  make  me  blithe.  287 

[Tke  soldiers  awaken.'] 

1.  MIL.     What !  oute  !  alias  !  what  schall  I  saie  ? 

Where  is  Me  corse  Mat  here  in  laye? 

n.  MIL.     What  ayles  Me,  man?     Is  he  awaye 

7%at  we  schulde  tente  ? 
i.  MIL.     Rise  vppe  and  see. 
n.  MIL.  Harrowe  !  for  ay 

I  telle  vs  schente.  293 

in.  MiL.6     What  deuill  is  Mis  ?  what  aylis  ^ou  twa  6 

Such  noyse  and  crye  Mus  for  to  ma  ? 7 

I.  MIL.     For  he  is  gone.  s 

in.  MIL.  9  Alias  !  wha  ? 

II.  MIL.         He  Mat  here  laye.9 
IV.  MIL.     Whe  !  harrowe  !  deuill  !  10  how  swa  298 

Gat  he  away  ?  10  298  a 

1  Y.  none.  5  On  this  stanza,  see  Notes. 

2  Y.  one.  6  Y.  twoo. 

8  He.  T.  gylt.  7  Y.  to  make  too ;  T.  to  may. 

*  K ;  Y.  for-slayne.  8  T.  ;  Y.  Why  is  he  gone? 

9-9  T. ;  Y.  Alias  whare  is  he  Mat  here  laye  ? 
10-10  T.;  Y.  whare  is  he  away  ? 


164  YORK    CORPUS    CHRISTI    PLAYS. 

in.  MiL.1     What  !  is  he  /^us-gatis  fro  vs  wente, 
T/tat  fals  traitour  Mat  here  was  lente, 
And  we  trewly  here  for  to  tente 

Had  vndir-tane? 
Sekirlie,2  I  telle  vs  schente 

Holy,  ilkane.  304 

i.  MiL.8     Alias  !  what  schall  we  do  this  day 
7%at  thus  this  warlowe  is  wente  his  waye  ? 
And  sauely,  sirs,  I  dare  wele  sale, 

He  rose  allone. 
II.  MIL.     Witte  sir  Pilate  of  this  affraye, 

We  mon  be  slone.  310 

in.  MIL.     Why,4  canne  none  of  vs  no  bettir  rede? 
iv.  MIL.     J^er  is  not  ellis  but  we  be  dede. 
II.  MIL.     Whanne  that  he  stered  oute  of  this  steede, 
None  couthe  it  kenne. 

I.  MIL.     Alias  !  harde  happe  was  on  my  hede 

Amonge  all  menne.  316 

Fro  sir  Pilate  witte  of  this  dede, 
T^at  we  were  slepande  whanne  he  ^ede, 
He  will6  forfette,  with-outen  drede, 
All  that  we  haue. 

II.  MIL.     Vs  muste  6  make  lies,  for  thz.1  is  nede, 

Oure-selue  to  saue.  322 


in.  MIL.     3a>  ^at  rede  I  7  wele,  also  8  motte  I  goo. 

iv.  MIL.     And  I  assente  Merto  alsoo. 

ii.  MIL.     An  hundereth,  schall  I  saie,  and  moo, 

Armed9  ilkone, 
Come  and  toke  his  corse  vs  froo 

And  10  vs  nere  slone.11  328 

1  MS.  ;  changed  by  Y.  to  n.  MIL.,  but  see  Notes. 

2  K,  inserts  sirs.  '  Y.  I  rede  I  ;  T.  He.  red  I. 
8  T.  ;  Y.  in.  MIL.  8  T.  so  ;  Ho.  als. 

4  K.  omits  Why.  »  T.  K.  Welle  armed. 

«  T.  We  mon  ;  preferred  by  He.       1°  He.  Had. 

«  Ho.  bus.  li  T.  ;  Y.  slayne. 


THE    RESURRECTION.  165 

I.  MIL.     Nay,  certis,  I  halde  Mere  none  so  goode 
As  saie  Me  soth  even  as  it  stoode, 
Howe  Mat  he  rose  with  mayne  and  mode 

And  wente  his  way. 
To  sir  Pilate,  if  he  be  wode, 

TMs  dar  I  saie.  334 

n.  MIL.     Why,  dare  Mou  to  sir  Pilate  goo 
With  thes  tydingis  and  saie  hym  soo  ? 
I.  MIL.     So  rede  I,  for,1  if  he  vs  sloo, 

We  dye  but  onys. 
in.  MIL.     Nowe,  he  Mat  wrought  vs  all  Mis  woo, 

Woo  worthe  his  bonys  !  340 

iv.  MIL.     Go  we  Manne,  sir  knyghtis  hende, 
Sen  Mat  2  we  schall  to  sir  Pilate  wende. 
I  trowe  Mat  we  shall  parte  no  frende8 

Or  Mat  we  passe. 
I.4  MIL.     And  I  schall  hym6  saie  ilke  word  tille  ende 

Even  as  it  was.  346 

[They  go  to  Pilate.'] 

Sir  Pilate,  prince  withouten  pere, 
Sir  Cayphas  and  Anna,  in-fere, 
And  all  ^e  lordyngis  Mat  are  here, 

To  neven  by  name, 
God  saue  }ou  all,  on  sidis  sere, 

Fro  synne  and  schame  !  352 

PiL.     3e  are  welcome,  oure  knyghtis  kene ! 
Of  mekill  mirthe  nowe  may  ^e  mene  ; 
Therfore  some  tales  telle  vs  be-twene, 

Howe  }e  haue  wroght. 
I.  MIL.     Oure  wakyng,  lorde,  with-outen  wene, 

Is  worthed  6  to  no}!.  358 

1  Inserted  by  K. ;  Ho.  inserts  do  after  he. 

2  Om.  T.  5  Om.  T.  K. 

«  Y.  frendes  ;  corr.  by  K.from  T.      6  He.  T.  worthe. 
*  Sfeaker  added  by  late  hand. 


1 66          YORK  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

CAYPH.  To  noght?  alias  !  Sesse  of  such  sawe  ! 
ii.  MIL.  The.  prophete  Jesu,  Mat  }e  wele  knawe, 
Is  resen  and  gone,  for  all  oure  awe, 

With  mayne  and  myght. 
PIL.     T^erfore  Me  deuill  hym-selffe  Me  drawe, 

Fals  recrayed  knyght !  364 

Combered  cowardis  I  you  call! 

Haue  36  latten  hym  goo  fro  you  all  ? 

in.  MIL.     Sir,  Mer  was  none  Mat  did  but  small 

When  Mat  he  $ede. 
iv.  MIL.     We  wer  so  ferde,  downe  ganne  we  falle 

And  dared  for  drede.  370 

ANNA.     Hadde  }e  no  streng[t]he  hym  to  gayne-stande  ? 
Traitoures !     3e  myght  haue  boune  in  bande 
Bothe  hym  and  Mame  Mat  }e  Mer  fande, 

And  sessid  Mame  sone. 
i.  MIL.     T^at  dede  all  erthely  men  leuand 

Myght  no^t  haue  done.  376 

n.  MIL.  We  wer  so  radde  euer-ilkone, 
Whanne  Mat  he  putte  beside  Me  stone, 
We  wer  so  stonyd  we  durst  stirre  none, 

And  so  abasshed. 
PIL.     What !  rose  he  by  hym-selfe  allone  ? 

I.  MIL.     3a»  s*r»  ^at1  be  ^e  traste.  382 

iv.  MIL.     We  herde  never  sen  we  were  borne, 
Nor  all  oure  faderes  vs  be-forne, 
Suche  melodic,  mydday  ne  morne, 

As  was  made  Mere. 
CAYPH.     Alias  !  Manne  is  oure  lawes  lorne 

For-euere-mare.  388 

n.  MIL.     What  tyme  he  rose  good  tente  I  toke  ; 
The.  erthe  Mat  tyme  tremylled  and  quoke. 

1  K.  omits  that. 


THE    RESURRECTION.  1  67 

All  kyndely  force  Man  me  for-soke, 

Tille  he  was  gone. 
in.  MIL.     I  was  a-ferde,  I  durste  not  loke, 

Ne  myght  had  none  ;  394 

I  myght  not  stande,  so  was  I  starke. 

PIL.     Sir  Cayphas,  }e  are  a  connyng  clerke,  — 

If  we  amisse  haue  tane  oure  merke,  — 

I  trowe  same  l  faile  ; 
T^erfore  what  schalle  wor//£e  nowe2  of  this  werke, 

Sais  your  counsaille.  400 

CAYPH.     To  saie  the  beste,  forsothe,  I  schall, 

That  schall  be  prophete  3  to  vs  all  : 

^one  knyghtis  behoues  Mere  wordis  agayne  4  call, 

Howe  he  is  miste  : 
We  nolde  for  thyng  Mat  myght  be-fall 

no  man  wiste.  406 


ANNA.     Now,  sir  Pilate,  sen  Mat  it  is  soo, 
7%at  he  is  resynne  [in-]dede  us  froo, 
Comaundis  }oure  knyghtis  to  saie  wher  th€\  goo 

T^at  he  was  tane 
With  xxti  ml.  men,  and  mo, 

And  Mame  5  nere  slayne.  412 

And  therto  of  our  tresorie 
Giffe  to  Mame  a  rewarde  for-thy. 
PIL.     Nowe  of  Mis  purpose  wele  plesed  am  I, 
And  forther  Mus  :  6 

[To  the  soldiers.] 

Sir  knyghtis,  Mat  are  in  dedis  dowty, 

Takes  tente  to  vs,  418 

1  Ho.  sanz.  3  Of  course  a  bad  spelling  of  profit. 

2  Om.  K.  *  K.  gayne.  5  He.  Mai. 
6  He.  T.    It  shalbe  thus,  which  is  probably  right. 


1 68  YORK    CORPUS    CHRISTI    PLAYS. 

And  herkenes  what  //#at  ^e  shall  saie 
To  ilke  a  man,1  both  ny^t  and  daye  : 
That 2  ten  m1.  men  in  good  araye 

Come  jou  vntill, 
With  forse  of  armys  bare  hym  awaye 

Agaynst  your  will.  424 

Thus  schall  ^e  saie  in  ilke  a  lande, 
And  //fcerto,  on  /^at  same  comenaunde, 
A  thousande  pounde  haue  in  youre  hande 

To  your  rewarde  ; 
And  frenschippe,  sirs,  }e  vndirstande, 

Schall  not  be  spared.  430 

CAIPH.S     Ilkone  youre  state  we  schall  amende ; 

And  loke  }e  saie  as  we  ^ou  kende. 

I.  MIL.     In  what  contre  so  ^e  vs  sende, 

Be  nyght  or  daye, 
Wherso  we  come,  wherso  we  wende, 

So  schal  we  saie.  436 

PIL.     3a>  and  where-so  }e  tarie  in  ilke  contre, 
Of  oure  doyng  in  no  degre 
Dois  //fcat  nomanne  the  wiser  be, 

Ne  freyne  be-forne  ; 
Ne  of  the  sight  /^at  }e  gonne  se, 

Nevynnes  it 4  now/^ere  even  ne  morne  ;  442 

For  we  schall  mayntayne  }ou  alwaye, 
And  to  the  pepull  schall  we  saie 
It  is  gretely  agaynste  oure  lay 

To  trowe  such  thing. 
So  schall  thei  deme,  both  nyght  and  day, 

All  is  lesyng.  448 

1  Y.  aman.  &  Late  hand. 

2  Om.  K.  4  Ho.  omits  Nevynnes  it. 


THE    RESURRECTION.  169 

Thus  schall  the.  sothe  be  bought  and  solde, 
And  treasoune  schall  for  trewthe  be  tolde  ; 
7/fcerfore  ay  in  youre  hartis  }e  holde 

TMs  counsaile  clene. 
And  fares  nowe  wele,  both  younge  and  olde, 

Haly  be-dene  !  454 


CHESTER  WHITSUN  PLAYS. 


Printed  from  MS.  Hengwrt  229,  the  property  of  W.  R.  M.  Wynne,  Esq.  The 
date  of  the  MS.  is,  according  to  Dr.  Furnivall,  1475  or  a  little  later ;  Mr.  Warner, 
of  the  British  Museum,  assigns  it  to  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century.  It  is,  there- 
fore, at  least  a  century  older  than  the  oldest  of  the  five  complete  MSS.  of  this 
collection.  Another  claim  to  interest  is  indicated  in  a  note  by  Dr.  Furnivall :  "  Mr. 
Wynne's  MS.  must  have  been  owned  by  some  player  or  manager,  who  doubled  it 
up  and  carried  it  about  in  his  pocket,  used  it  with  hot  hands,  and  faded  its  ink. 
I  suppose  it 's  the  only  copy  of  the  kind." 

Mr.  Wynne,  whose  kindness  I  cannot  adequately  acknowledge,  wishes  the  print 
to  represent  the  MS.  as  exactly  as  possible.  I  have  accordingly  given  the  text 
without  change,  except  that  I  have  not  attempted  to  reproduce  the  forms  of  the 
letters — long/",  for  example  —  and  that  I  have  supplied  the  punctuation,  there 
being  none  in  the  MS.  Final  II  is  usually  crossed,  and  final  m  and  n  flourished, 
but  it  seemed  unnecessary  to  indicate  these  ;  only  exceptional  peculiarities  are 
pointed  out.  The  capitals,  it  will  be  observed,  are  those  of  the  MS.  Such  correc- 
tions and  additions  as  seemed  absolutely  necessary  for  the  ordinary  reader  have 
been  supplied  in  the  footnotes,  where  will  also  be  found  a  sufficient  number  of 
readings  from  the  other  MSS.  to  indicate  in  a  general  way  the  relations  of  this  MS. 
to  the  two  classes  established  by  Deimling.  A  full  collation  seemed  unnecessary, 
in  view  of  the  nature  of  this  book  and  of  the  likelihood  that  we  shall  ere  long  have 
the  second  part  of  Deimling's  edition.  Suffice  it  to  say  here  that  this  MS.  is  more 
closely  related  to  H.  than  to  B.  W.  h. 

In  the  footnotes,  Wr.  indicates  Wright's  edition  (2  vols.,  Shakespeare  Society, 
1843);  W.  indicates  Dr.  Furnivall's  reading  of  MS.  Addit.  10,305,  —  the  basis  of 
Wright's  text;  H.  indicates  MS.  Harl.  2124;  cf.  p.  66,  above.  The  occasional 
remarks  on  the  different  ways  in  which  the  same  word  has  been  read  are  intended  to 
help  the  reader  to  a  conception  of  the  actual  appearance  of  the  MS. 


[ANTICHRIST.] 
1Incipit  paginaXX  .  .  .2  De  salla  .  . 

Primo  equitando  incipiat  A  nt .  .  .  :  * 

p.   i.     De  celso  trono  poli,  pollens  clarior  sole  — 

Age  vobis  6  monstrare  —  descendi  vos  iudicare 

1  All  Latin  is  -written  in  big  letters. 

2  In  Wr.  it  is  XXIV,  but  the  MS.  he  follows  calls  it  XXIII. 

3  Qy.  fallacia.  4  Antechristus. 
*  Wr.  Age  vos  ;  both  -words  almost  illegible  in  MS. 


ANTICHRIST. 

Reges  et  principes  sunt  subditi  sub  me  viuentes  ; 

Sites  l  sapientes  vos,  semper  in  me  credentes, 

Et  faciam  flentes  gaudere  atque  dolentes  ; 

Sic  omnes  gentes  gaudebunt  in  me  sperantes. 

Descendi  presens  Rex  pius  et  perlustrator  ; 

Prinnceps  eternus  Vocor,  cristus,  vester  Saluator.  8 

All  ledys  in  londe,  now  bese  light, 

That  wyllyn  be  Rulyde  throghe  out  the  Right  : 

Youre  2  Savyor  nowe  in  youre  sight 

Here  may  ye  sauely  see  ; 
Messyas,  criste  2  and  most  of  might, 
That  in  the  2  lawe  wos  youe  behyght, 
All  monkynde  loy  to  dyght 

Is  comyn,  for  I  am  hee.  16 

Off  me  was  spokyn  in  prophecye 
Off  Moyses,  davyd  and  ysaye  ; 
I  am  8  he  they  call  messye, 

fforbyer  of  Israeli. 
That  4  levyn  on  me  stydfastly, 
I  shall  them  saue  frome  all  Any, 
And  siche  6  joye  Right  as  haue  I 

hem  6  I  thinke  to  dele.  24 


De  me  enim  dicitur  Ezechiel  tricesimo  sexto  : 
"  Tollam  vos  de  gentibns,  et  congregabo  vos  de 
vniuersis  terris,  et  reduam."1  vos  in  terram  vtstram." 

But  one  hath  lyggydd  8  hym  here  in  londe,  — 
Ihmi  he  hight,  I  vnderstond,  — 
To  fforther  falsed  9  he  confounde  10 

1  Wr.  Sitis  ;  almost  illegible  in  MS. 

2  The  beginning  of  these  lines  almost  illegible. 

8  I  am  is  almost  illegible.  4  Wr.  Those  that.  5  Wr.  omits  siche. 

6  This  is  the  only  example  of  hem  (=  them)  in  this  MS. 
1  The  correct  reading,  reducam,  is  written  belcnv  this  -word  in  MS. 
8  Corrected  in  MS.  from  laykyd.  9  Wr.  falsehoode. 

1°  Read  can  (=  gan)  fonde  ;  Wr.  has  can  founde. 


CHESTER   WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

And  ferde  withe  ffantasye. 
His  wykydne}  he  wolde  not  wonde  J 
Till  he  wos  takyn  and  putt  in  bonde l 
And  Slayne  throghe  virtue  of  my  sonde.1 

This  ys  sothe  sycurlye.  32 

My  peple  of  lues  he  cothe  twynne, 
p.  2.     That  theyr  land  come  they  neu^r  in  ; 
Then  on  theym  nowe  most  I  myn 

And  Restoure  theym  agayn. 
To  bylde  this  temple  wyll  I  not  blyn, 
And  as  god  hon#ryd  be  therin  ; 
And  endless  wele  I  shall  them  wyn, 

All  that  to  me  bene  bayne.  40 

De  me  etiam2  </icitur  in  psalmo:    "  Adorabo  ad 
templum  Sanctum  tuum  in  timore  tuo" 

One  thing  me  gladys,  be  ye  bolde, 

As  Danyell,  the  prophett,  ffore  me  tolde, 

All  women  in  worlde  me  loue  shulde 

when  I  were  comyn  Rowland.8 
This  prophesye  I  shall  well  holde,4 
which  ys  most  lykyng  to  yonge  &  olde; 
I  thinke  to  ff aast  mo#ye  folde  6 

And  theyr  ffayrnesse  to  ffounde.  48 

Also  he  told  them,4  leue  ye  me, 
That  I  of  giftis  shulde  be  free,  — 
whiche  prophesye  don  shalbe 

When  I  my  Realme  4  haue  wonnen,  —  6 
And  that  I  4  shulde  4  graunte  4  men  poste,7 
Ryvyd  Riches,  lond  and  ffee  ;  — 

1  The  o  in  these  words  looks  like  e.  2  Perhaps  emtn  as  in  Wr. 

8  Wr.  has  1.  48  as  both  44  and  48  ;  H.  gives  the  correct  reading:  When  I 
were  come  in  land.  6  Wr.  I  thinke  faste  manye  to  holde. 

4  Almost  illegible. 

6  H.  has  nommen  ;  the  word  is  so  uncertain  in  MS.  that  it  was  at  first 
read  memory.  7  Wr.  mercy;  H.  agrees  with  MS. 


ANTICHRIST. 


That  shall  J  be  done,1  that  ye  shall  see, 

Whan  I  am  hether  comen.2  56 

Danielis  1   tercio   decimo  :    "  dabit  eis  potestatem 
mult  .  -1  et  terram  diuidet  gratuitam." 

Whatt  saye  ye,  kingis  that  here  ben  lente? 
Ar  not  my  wordys  at  youre  Assente  ? 
That  1  1  am1  criste  omnypotente,  — 

Leve  ye  not  thus  Ichon1? 
PRIMUS  REX.     We  leuen,  lorde,  wz't^out  lett, 
That  crist  he  ys  not  comyn  yet. 
Yff  thowe  be  he,  thowe  shalbe  sett 

In  temple  as  god  Alon.  64 

SECUNDUS  REX.     Iff  thowe  be  crist,  callyd  messye, 
That  from  oure  bale  shall  vs  bye, 
Doe  1  byfore  us  some  maistrye, 

A  signe  1  that  we  may  see. 
TERCIUS  REX.     Then  will  I  leue  that  hitt  ys  so 
yf  thowe  do  wonders  or  thow  goo  ; 
So  that  thow  saue  vs  of  oure  woo, 

Then  honoryd  shall  thowe  be.  72 

QUARTUS  REX.     ffowle  haue  we  levyd  mony  a  yen? 
And  of  oure  wenyng  bene  in  were  ; 
And  thowe  be  crist  now  comyn  here, 

Then  may  thowe  stynt  all  striffe. 
AxTECffXfSTiss.     That  I  am  Crist,  and  Crist  wilbe, 
By  verrey  signes  sone  shall  ye  see, 
ffor  dede  3  men  thrughe  my  poste 

Shall  Ryse  from  dethe  to  lyue.  80 

Now  wyll  I  turne  all  thrughe  my  myght 
Trees  downe,  the  Rote  vp  Right,  — 
That  ys  marvell  to  youre  sighte,  — 

1  Almost  illegible.  2  The  line  is  almost  illegible. 

8  This  -was  at  first  read  as  alle  ;  Wr.  has  dead. 


174  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

And  ffrute  groing  vpon  : 
So  shall  they  growe  and  Multiplie J 
Throghe  my  might  and  my  maistrey,  — 
I  putt  you  out  of  hereysye 

to  here  2  me  Apon.  88 

and  bodyes  that  ben  dede  and  slayne, 
Yff  I  may  Rayse  theym  vp  Agayne, 
Thow  honorys  me  w/tA  myght  &  mayn  ; 

Then  shall  no  mon  yow  gryue. 
fforsothe  then  after  will  I  dee 
And  Ryse  Agayn  thrughe  my  poostye. 
Yff  I  may  do  thus  mar^ulosly, 

I  Redd  yow  on  me  leue.  .  96 

Men  buryed  in  graue,  as  ye  may  see, 

What  Maistrye  ys  nowe,  hope  ye, 

To  Rayse  theym  vp  thrughe  my  postye 

And  all  thrughe  my  none  Accorde? 
Whyther  I  in  my  godhede  be, 
By  euery  signe  ye  shall  se. 
Ryse  vp,  ye  dede  men,  &  honures  me 

And  knoys  me  for  youre  lorde.  104 

7"«nc  Resurgendo  dicat  primus  Mortuus. 

A  !  lord,  to  the  I  aske  mercye  ; 
I  wos  dede,  but  nowe  lyue  I  ! 
Nowe  wot  I  well  and  wytterly 

That  Crist  ys  hyther  comyn. 

p.  4.     SECUNDUS  MORTUUS.     Hym  honore  we  and  all  Men, 
»Devotly  kneling  on  oure  knen. 
Wurshipte  be  thowe  then,  Amen  ! 

Crist,  that  oure  name  has  nomen.8  112 

1 A  stroke  through  the  second  1. 
2  Corrected  in  margin  to  leeve. 
8  Wr.  Christe  our  name  is  comen. 


ANTICHRIST.  175 

ANTECRISTUS.     That  I  shall  fulfill  holly  wrytt, 
Ye  shall  wott  and  knowe  well  hyt  ; 
ffor  I  am  wall  of  welle  and  wytt  l 

And  lord  of  euery  londe  ; 
And  as  the  prophet  Sophanye 
Spekis  of  me  full  wytturlye, 
I  shall  Reherse  here  Redylye 

That  Clerkys  shall  vnderstond  :  1  20 

Sophonie  tercio  :  expectame  2  in  die  Resurrecc'wnis 
mee  in  futurum,  quia  iudici\\m  8  ut  congregem  gentes 
et  colligam  Regna. 

Nowe  will  I  dye  that  ye  shall  see, 
And  Ryse  agayne  thrughe  my  poostye. 
I  wyll  in  graue  that  ye  put  me 

And  wurship  me  Alon  ; 
ffor  in  this  temple  a  tombe  ys  made, 
There  in  my  bodye  shalbe  leyde. 
Then  wyll  I  Ryse  as  I  haue  sayde,  — 

Take  tente  to  me  ychon,  —  1  28 

And  after  my  Resurreccion, 

Then  wyll  I  sytt  wz't^  gret  Renovne, 

And  my  gost  sende  to  yow  downe  4 

In  forme  of  fyer  full  sone. 
I  dye  !  I  dye  !  ndwe  am  I  dede  !  133 


REX.     Nowe  si  the  this  worthy  lorde  ys  dede 
And  his  4  grace  ys  withe  us  lede, 
To  *  take  hys  body  it  ys  my  Rede  5 

And  burye  it  in  a  graue. 

SECUNDZ/S  REX.     fforsothe  and  so  to  us  he  saide, 
In  a  toumbe  he  wolde  be  laide. 

1  Wr.  wall  [of]  wayle  and  witte  ;  read  welle  of  wele  and  wytt. 

2  Read  expecta  me.  *  Almost  illegible. 

3  Wr.  also  omits  meum.  6  This  was  at  first  read  as  bedde. 


1/6  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

No  we  goo  we  for  the  all  at  a  brayde  ! 

ffrome  dyssese  he  may  us  saue.  141 

Tune  transeunt  ad  A  ntechristum. 

TERCIUS  REX.     Take  we  the  bodye  of  this  swete 

And  ley  it  low  vndre  the  greet  ! 

Nowe,  Icrde,  comforde  us,  we  the  biseke, 

And  send  vs  of  thy  grace. 
p.  5.     QUARTUS  REX.     And  if  he  Rise  sone1  thrughe  his 

myght 

ffrome  dethe  to  lyve,  as  he  hyght, 
Hym  wyll  I  honour  day  and  nyght 

As  god  in  tuerj  place.  149 

Tune  recedent  de  tumulo  «jyue  ad  terrain,  ft  dicat 


REX.     Nowe  wot  I  well  that  he  ys  dede, 
ffor  nowe  in  greve  we  haue  hym  layde. 
Yff  he  2  Ryse  as  he  hasse  sayd, 

He  ys  2  of  fulgret  8  myghte. 
SECUNDUS  REX.     I  can  not  leffe  hym  apon 
But  yf  he  Ryse  hym  selffe  alon, 
As  he  hass  sayde  to  monyon, 

And  shoo  hym  here  in  syght.  157 

TERCIUS    REX.      Tyll  that  oure  sauyore  be   Ryson 

agayne, 
In  fayth,  my  hart  may  not  be  fayne 

t4 

But  I  hym  see  withe  yee. 

QUARTUS  REX.     I  most  morne  withe  All  my  mayne 
Till  Crist  be  Rison  vp  Agayn. 
Off  that  myracle  make  us  fayne, 

Ryse  vp,2  lorde,  that  we  may  see.  164 

1  A  curve  aver  n.  2  Almost  illegible.  8  Read  ful  gret. 

4  The  MS.  (W.)  printed  by  Wr.  also  omits  this  line  ;  Wr.  supplied  it  from 
H.,  as  follows:  My  body  eke  will  not  be  bayne. 


ANTICHRIST. 


Tune  A  nte  christar  leuat  caput  snnm  surgens  a  mortuis. 

ANT-ECHRISTUS.     I  Rise  nowe  !  Reverence  dose  to  me  ! 
God  glorify,  fyrst,  last,  in  1  degre. 
I£E  I  be  crist,  nowe  levys  ye,2 

And  warchis  after  the  wyse  !  8 
PRIMES  REX.     A  !  lord,  welcome  most  thowe  be  ! 
That  thow  art  god,  nowe  leue  we. 
Therefore  go  sit  vp  in  thy  see, 

And  kepe  cure  sacrvf  yse.  1  72 

Tune  transient  ad  A  nfechristum. 

SECUNDUS  REX.    Forsoth  in  seyte  thowe  shaltbe  sett, 
And  honoryd  bothe  with  lambe  &  gete,4 
As  moseyes  lawe  that  lastyth  yet, 

As  he  as  5  sayd<?  beffore.6 

TERCIUS  REX.    O  gracius  lorde,  go  sytt  downe  then, 
And  we  shall,  kneling  on  oure  knen, 
wurship  the  as  thyn  owne  men 

And  worche  after  thy  lore.  180 

Tune  assendit  A  ntechristus  ad  .  .  .  J 

p.  6.     Ex   TERCius8   REX.       Hethur  we   be    comyn   with 

good  entent 

To  make  oure  sacryfice,  lord  excellent, 
Withe  this  lambe  that  I  haue  here  hente, 

Knelyng  the  before. 
Thowe  graunte  vs  grace  to  do  &  saye 

1  Wr.  glorified,  created  of;  H.  glorified,  greatest  of.   The  latter  is  probably 
correct  and  the  original  of  the  reading  of  our  MS.     Dr.  Furnivall,  however, 
thinks  MS.  really  has  glorify  kreatyd  in. 

2  Wr.  H.  ye  me.  3  Wr.  my  will. 
*  Wr.  honoured  with  lande  (for  laude)  greate. 

6  Wr.  hath  ;  read  has. 

6  This  line  in  another  hand,  which  Dr.  Furnivall  thinks  later. 

7  Wr.  cathedram.     In  MS.  this  stage  direction  follows  Et  Tercius  Rex, 
on  the  same  line. 

8  H.  has  Primus  ;  Wr.  has  no  speaker's  name. 


1/8  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

That  it  be  plesing  to  the  aye, 
To  thy  blysse  that  come  we  may 

And  never  fro  it  be  loore.  188 

AxTE.CffxrsTUS.     I  lord,  I  god,  I  hyght  lustyce, 
I  crist,  that  made  the  dede  to  Rise, 
Here  I  Receyue  youre  sacryfyce, 
And  blesse  you  ffleshe  and  fell 

Tune  transiunt  de  A  ntechriste. 

Ye  kyngis,  also  to  you  I  tell, 

I  wyll  nowe  send  my  holly  goost 

To  knowe  me  lord,  of  myghtist  1  most, 

off  heven,  yerthe  and  hell.  196 

Tune  emittit  spiritrtm  dicetu  : 

"  Dabo   vobis   cor  nvvum  et  spritum   novum  In 
media  Vestri." 

QUARTUS  REX.     A,  god  !  a,  lorde,  mycle  of  myght  ! 
This  holye  gost  is  in  me  pight  ; 
Me  thinks  my  hart  ys  verry  light 

Sithe  it  come  into  me. 

PRIMES  REX.     Lord,  we  the  honor  day  and  nyght, 
ffor  thowe  shewys  vs  in  sight, 
Right  as  moyses  vs  behyght. 

Honoryd  most  thowe  bee  !  204 


Yet  worthie  werkis  to  youre  will 
Off  prophcie  I  will  2  fullfill  : 
As  Danyell  prophycied  you  till 

That  londys  8  I  shulde  devyse, 
That  phrophecye  it  shalbe  done, 
That  ye  shall  se  Right  sone. 
Wurshipis  me  all  that  ye  mone, 

And  do  after  the  wise.  212 

1  Read  myghtis,  as  in  Wr.  2  Wr.  shall.  8  Wr.  baundes. 


ANTICHRIST.  1 79 

Ye  kyngis,  I  shall  avaunte  1  you  All, 
And,  for  youre  Regnis  be  but  Small, 
Citie},  castells  shall  you  befall, 

•with  Towne^  and  Towre^  gay, 
7.     And  make  you  lordis  of  lordishipis  ffere,2  — 
And  well  it  ffalles  -for  my  power  ;  — 
And  loke  ye  do  as  I  you  lerr,8 

And  harkens  what  I  say.4  220 

I  am  verey  god  of  myght ; 

All  thinge  I  made  thrugh  my  myght, 

Son  and  mone,  day  and  nyght ; 

To  blisse  I  may  you  bring. 
Therfor,  kyngis  noble  5  and  gay, 
Yoken  6  youre  peple 5  that 7  I  saye, 
That  I  am  crist,  god  verey, 

And  tell  theym  such  tything.8  228 

My  peple  5  of  Iwes  were  put  me  frome  ; 
Therfor  gret  Ruthe  I  haue  theym  on. 
Whythur  they  wyll  leue  me  vpon 

I  wyll  fulsone  Assaye  ; 
ffor  All  that  wyll  leue  me  vpon 
Wordely  welthe  shall  theym  fall  on, 
And  to  my  blysse  shall  they  come 

To  dwell  withe  me  for  Aye.10  236 

And  the  giftes  that  I  behighte 
Ye  shall  haue,  as  ys  good  Right, 
Hens  or  I  goo  oute  of  youre  sight ; 
Ichon  shall  knowe11  \\is  doole  : 
To  the  I  gyffe  lambardye  ; 
And  to  the,  denmarke  and  hungrye  ; 

1  Wr.  advanse ;  read  avaunce;  MS.  clearly  has  t  not  c. 

2  H.  fayre.  ?  H.  what. 

8  H.  bad.  8  225-228  are  not  in  Wr.  (W.) 

*  217-220  are  not  in  Wr.  (W.)  W  This  stanza  is  not  in  Wr.  (W.) 

8  A  stroke  through  1.  u  H.  haue ;  Wr.  knowe. 
6  H.  Token. 


l8O  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

And  take  patmouse 1  &  Italye, 

And  Rome  hit  shall  be  hyse.J  244 

SECUNDUS  REX.     Grawnt  marsye,  lorde,  youre  gifte 

to  day! 

Honor  the  we  wyll  Alway, 
ffor  we  were  nevyr  so  Rych,  in  ffay, 

Ne  non  of  all  oure  kynde. 

8  ANTECffRfsrus:    Therefor  be  true  and  stydfast  Aye 
And  levys  trulye  on  my  laye, 
ffor  I  wyll  harken  on  you  to  day 

Stydfast  yf  I  you  ffynd.  252 

Tune  sedeat  A  ntechristus ;  et  veniant  Enoke  et  Elysas,  Quorum  dicat 
enoke  : 

Almyghtye  god  in  maiestye, 

That  made  the  hevon  and  yerthe  to  be, 

ffyre,  water,  ston  and  tree 

And  mon  Als,  throghe  thy  myght, 
The  poyntys  of  thy  prevytye 
Any  erthely  mon  to  see 
p.  8.     Is  impossible,  as  thynk/j  me, 

To  ony  worldely  wighte.  260 

Gracius  lorde,  that  arte  so  gud, 

That  who  4  so  long  in  fleshe  and  blude 

Hasse  grauntyd  lyue  and  hevonly  ffode, 

Lett  never  oure  though t&  be  fylyde; 
But  gyue  vs,  lorde,  might  &  mayn, 
Or*-  we  of  this  shrewe  be  slayne, 
To  convert  thy  peple  6  Agayne, 

That  he  hasse  thus  begylyd.  268 

1  Wr.  take  thou  Ponthous. 

2  H.  Wr.  thyne;  I  cannot  suggest  the  emendation  required  by  the  rhyme. 
8  In  the  left  margin  opposite  249,  250,  251  are  three -words,  which  Dr.  Fur- 

nivall  suggests  may  be  the  names  of  actors.    From  the  analogy  of  the  other 
Chester  Plays  (cf.  the  Balaam  pageant,  p.  70,  above,  and  that  of  the  Three 
Kings)  I  should  rather  infer  that  they  are  stage  directions.     These  words 
in  transcript  look  like  hoore  ande  offod. 
*  Qy.  us.  6  A  stroke  through  1. 


ANTICHRIST.  l8l 

Sythe  the  wondis  begynnyng 
I  haue  lyvyd  in  grett  lyking, 
Thrugh  helpe  of  highe  hevon  kyng, 

In  paradyce,  -with  out  Anye, 
Tyll  we  hard  tokening 
Off  this  theeffys  commyng, 
That  nowe  in  erthe  ys  Reynyng 

And  goddzs  folke l  distryes.2  276 

To  paradyce  takyn  I  wos  that  tyde 

This  theffys  comyng  to  Abyd, 

And  helye,  my  brother,  here  me  bysyde, 

wos  after  sende  to  me. 
wythe  this  Champion  we  most  Chyde, 
That  nowe  in  worlde  walkys  wyde, 
To  disspr^ve  h/j  pompe  and  8  pryde 

And  payre  all  hzs  poostye.  284 

HELYAS.4     O  lorde,  that  Maddist  Althinge, 

And  long  hasse  lent  vs  lyving, 

Lett  nevure5  the  Devyle  power3  spryng 

This  man  hass  hym  w/'t^  in. 
God  gyve  you  grace,  bothe  olde  &  yonge, 
To  knowe  discayte  in  hys  doynge, 
That  ye  may  come  to  that  lykynge 

Off  blisse  that  nevere  shall  blyn.  292 

I  warne  you,  all  men,  wytterly, 

This  hys  Ennoke,  I  am  helye, 

Ben  comyn  thys  herroarj6  to  distrye 

That  he  to  you  nowe  shewe}. 
He  callis  hym  selffe  crist  &  messye  ; 
He  lye},  forsothe,  App^rtelye  : 

1  A  stroke  through  L 

2  Wr.  And  doth  Godes  folkes  destroye ;    of  course  the  final  s  is  te  be 
stricken  out ;  •whether  doth  is  to  be  inserted  may  admit  of  doubt,  considering 
the  numerous  instances  of  3.  s.fr.  Ind.  without  either  s  or  th. 

3  Almost  illegible.  6  This  -was  at  first  read  as  us  dure. 

4  A  curve  over  as  6  \Vr.  his  errores. 


1 82  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

300 


He  ys  the  Devull  you  to  Anye  ; 

And  for  non  other  hym  knoys ! 


p.  9.     TERTIUS  REX.     A  !  men,1  what  speke  ye  of  helye 
And 1  ennoke  ?  they  ben 2  in  companye. 
Off  oure  blude  they  ben  wetterlye, 

And  we  be  of  theyre  kynde. 

QUARTUS  REX.     We  Redon  in  bokys  of  oure  lawe 
That  they  to  hevon  were  I  drawe  ; 
And  yet  ben  ther,  ys  the  comyn  sawe, 

Wrytyn  as  men  may  ffynde.  308 

ENNOKE.     We  be  the  men,  forsoth  I  wysse, 

Be  comyn  to  tell  ye  don  Amysse 

And  bring  youre  sowlys  to  hevon  blisse, 

Yff  it  were  ony  bote. 

HELYAS.     This  devuls  lym  that  comyn  ys, 
That  saye}  hevon  and  yerthe  ys  hys, 
Nowe  been  we  Redye,  leve  ye  this, 

Agaynst  hym  for  to  Mote.  316 

PRIM  CAS  REX.     Yff  that  we  Redye8  wytt  monn, 
By  preues  of  Disputacion, 
That  ye  haue  skyll  and  Reason, 

Wzt/i  you  we  will  Abyde. 
SECUAT>US  REX.     And  if  youre  skyllys  may  do  hym 

downe, 

To  dye  withe  you  we  wilbe  bowne, 
In  hope  of  Sawle4  saluac/oan, 

What  so  euer  betyd.  324 

ENNOKE.     To  do  hym  downe  we  shall  Assay, 
Thrugh  myght  of  Ihesu  borne  of  A  maye, 
By  Right  and  Reason,  as  ye  shall  say,  — 

And  that  ye  shall  well  here  ; 
And  for  that  cause  hyther  were  we  sent 

1  Almost  illegible.  *  Wr.  heare. 

2  Wr.  bene  bouth.  *  Wr.  omits  sawle. 


ANTICHRIST.'  183 

By  Ihtf.ru  crist  owwipotente, 

And  that  ye  shall  not  all  be  shente  : 

He  thought1  you  all  full  dere.  332 

Bese  glade,  therefor,  and  makts  gud  chere, 
And  do,  I  Redd,2  as  I  you  lere  ; 
ffor  we  ben  comyn  in  gud  manure 

To  saue  you  eu^rychon. 
And  drede  you  noght  for  that  falsse  fynde, 
ffor  ye  shall  se  hym  cast  Behynde 
Or  we  dep#rte  and  from  hym  wynde, 

And  shame  shall  hym  light  on.  340 

Et  sic  transibunt   Ennoke    et    Helyas  Ad   A  wtechristuwz,   yuorum    dicat 
Ennoke  : 

p.  10.  8  Say,  thowe  verey  devuls  lyme, 
That  sittz'j  so  grisly  and  4  grym, 
ffrom  hym  thowe  come  &  shall  to  hym, 
ffor  mony  A  sowle  thowe  decevys.5 
Thowe  hasse  deceyuyd  men  mony  a  day, 
And  made  the  peple  6  to  thy  pay, 
And  wychyd  theym  into  A  wrang  wey 

Wykkydly  wz't/;  thy  wylys.  348 


A!  fals  fayteors,  from  me  ye  fflee  ! 
Am  I  not  most  in  maiestye  ? 
What  men  dar  meyn  theym  thus  to  me 

Or  make  such  distaunce  ?  7 
HELIAS.     ffye  on  the,  fayture,  fye  on  the, 
The  devuls  owne  nurre  ! 
Thrughe  hym  thowe  preches  &  hast  postye 

A  whyle  thrughe  sufferawnce.  356 


You  ypocritw,  thai  so  cryn, 
losells,  lurdans,  lowdelye  you  lyne  ! 

l  Wr.  bought.  2  Wr.  And  I  doe  read. 

8  In  left  margin  a  later  hand  has  written  some  words  which   in  Dr. 
Furnivall's  transcript  look  like  :  hore  ha  sde  son  s  m.  *  Wr.  and  so. 

5  Read  begylys.  6  A  stroke  through  1.  "  A  stroke  over  un. 


184  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

To  spyll  my  lawe  you  Asspyne.1 

That  speeche  ys  gud  to  spare  ! 
You  that  my  true  fayth  desyne  2 
And  nedeles  my  folke  devyen,8 
ffrom  hens  hastely  but  ye  hyne, 

To  you  comys  sorowe  &  care.  364 

ENNOKE.     Thy  sorowe  and  care  cum  on  thy  hede, 
ffor  falsly  thrughe  thy  wykkyd  Redde 

The  peple  4  ys  put  to  pyne.5 
I  wolde  the  6  body  were  from  the  6  hede, 
XX  mylys  from  hit  layde 

Tyll  I  hit  broght  Agayn.  370 


.     Oute  on   the,   wysarde,7  w/tA  thy 
wylis  ! 
ffor  falsly  my  peple  thowe  begylus  ; 

I  shall  the  hastely  honge  ! 
n.  And  that  lurdayn  thai  stondys  the  bye, 
He  putty  s  my  folke  to  gret  Anye 

Withe  his  false  flaterand  tong.  376 

But  I  shall  teche  you  curtesye, 
youre  sauyor  to  knowe  anon  in  hye, 
ffals  Theffe^  with  youre  herysye, 

And  if  ye  darr  Abyde  !  380 

HELYAS.     Yes,  forsothe,  for  All  thy  pryde, 

Thrughe  grace  of  God  Almyght 
Here  we  purpose  for  to  Abyde, 
And  all  the  werld,  that  ys  so  wyde, 
Shall  wondre  on  the  on  euery  syde, 

Sone  in  all  mennys  sight.8  386 

1  Wr.  spine. 

2  MS.  clearly  has  f,  but  read  defyne  (=  defy)  with  Wr.  H. 
8  This  -was  at  first  read  as  denyen  ;  Wr.  has  devyne. 

*  A  stroke  through  \.        5  Wr.  paine.        6  \yr.  thy.        7  Wr.  rasarde. 
8  The  stanza  lacks  the  first  two  lines  in  Wr.  also. 


ANTICHRIST.  185 

ANTE.CHRISTUS.     Out  on  you,  theffys  bothe  ij  ! 
Iche  man  may  se  ye  be  soe 

All  by  youre  Araye  ; 
Muffelyd  in  mantyls,  non  such  I  knowe  ; 
I  shall  make  you  lowte  full  loo 
Or  I  departe  you  all  froo, 

To  knowe  me  lorde  for  Aye.  393 

ENNOKE.     We  ben  no  theffys,  I  the  tell, 
Thowe  fals  fend  comyn  from  hell  ! 
Wythe  the  we  purpous  more  to  mell, 

My  felow  and  I  in  fere, 
To  knowe  thy  power  and  thy  myght, 
As  we  these  kyngis  have  behight  ; 
And  thereto  we  ben  Redy  dighte, 

That  all  men  no  we  may  here.  401 


My  myght  ys  most,  I  tell  to  the  ; 
I  dyed,  1  Rose,  thrughe  my  poostye, 
That  all  these  kyngis  sawe  -with  theyr  ee, 

And  eu<?ry  mon  and  wiffe  ; 
And  myracles  1  and  marvels  I  did  Also. 
I  consell  you,  therefor,  bothe  ij, 
To  wurship  me  and  no  moo, 

And  lett  vs  nowe  no  more  stryue.  409 

HELYAS.     They  were  no  myracles  but  nruzrvells  2  thingzj 
That  thowe  shewyd  to  these  kyngis 

€  3 

Thrughe  the  fendys  crafte. 
p.  12.   And  as  the  floure  nowe  springys, 
ffallith,  fadithe  4  and  hyngys, 
So  do  thy  loy  nowe  5  Ragnes 

That  shalbe  from  the  Rafte.  416 

1  A  stroke  through  L  *  Wr.  faith. 

2  Wr.  marvayles.  6  Wr.  So  thy  joye  it;  H.  So  thy  joye  now  it. 

3  This  line,  missing  also  in  Wr.,  is  supplied  by  H.  :  into  falsehood 
thou  them  bringes. 


1 86  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

AxTECffRfsrus.     Oute  on  the,  theffe,  that  setter  so 
styll  ! 

Why  wylte  thoM  not  one  wurde  speke  theym  tyll, 

i 

That  comyn  me  to  Reprove  ?  2 

DOCTOR.     O  Lorde,  maistre  !  what  shall  1  say  then? 
ANTECHXIS'J'US.     I  beshrewe  bothe  thy  kenne,8 
Arte  thowe  nowe  for  to  kenn  ? 

In  faythe,  I  shall  the  greve  !  423 

Off  my  godhed  I  made  the  wysse 
And  sett  the  euer  at  Micle  4  price  ; 
Nowe  I  wolde  fele  thy  gud  advyce, 

And  here  what  thowe  wolde  saye. 
These  lowlers  they  wolde  full  fayne  me  greue, 
And  nothing  on  me  will  they  leue, 
But  euer  ben  Radye  me  to  Repreue 

And  all  the  peple  4  of  my  lawe.6  43 1 

DOCTOR.  O  Lord,  that  art  so  mycle  of  myghte, 
Me  thynke  thowe  shullest  not  Chyde  nor  fyghte, 
But  curs  theym,  lorde,  thrugh  thy  myght, 

Then  6  shall  they  fan?  full  yll  ; 
for  those  that  thowe  Blesses  they  shall  well  spede, 
And  those  that  thowe  cursys  they  be  best  dede  : 
This  ys  my  co«cell  and  my  Rede 

Yendre  herytykw  to  spy  11.  439 

ANTECRYSTUS.  .  The    same    I    purposyd,   lerne7 

thowe  me  ; 

All  thing  I  knowe  thrugh  my  postye  ; 
But  yet  I  thoghte  thy  witt  to  see, 
What  wos  thyn  entent. 

1  This  line,   missing  in   Wr.  also,  is  supplied  by  H. :  but  lett  them 
speak  all  thei  will.  2  Read  repreve. 

8  Later  hand  has  written  in  margin  knees  ;  H.  has  knenne. 

4  A  stroke  through  1.  6  Read  laye. 

6  AUnost  illegible.  7  Read  leeve,  with  Wr. 


ANTICHRIST.  l8/ 

Hit  shalbe  downe1  ful  sicurlye, — 
The  sentence  gyvon  full  openly, 
with  my  mouthe  trulye, 

Apon  theym  shalbe  hente.  447 

My  curse  I  gyue  you  to  mend  your  Melys, 
ffrom  youre  hede  vnto  youre  helys ! 

walke  ye  furthe  youre  2  way  ! 
ENOKE.     Ye  !  thowe  shalt  nevur  com  in  Celts, 
ffor  falsly  with  thy  wylus  8 

The  peple  4  ys  put  in  pyne.  6  453 

p.  13.    ANTECRISTUS.     Out    on  you,   Thevys!    why  far  ye 

thus? 

Whither  hade  ye  leuer  haue  payne  or  blisse  ? 
I  may  you  saue  from  all  Amys  ; 

I  made  the  day  and  yke  the  nyght, 
And  All  thing  that  ys  on  yerthe  groyng,  — 
fflowre}  freshe  that  fayr  can  spryng,  — 
Also  I  made  all  other  thing,6 

They  sterrus  that  be  so  bryght.  461 

HELYAS.     Thowe  list  !  vengea«nce  on  the  befall  ! 
Oute  on  the,  wreche  !  wrothe  the  I  shall. 
Thowe  callis  the  kyng  &  lord  of  all  ; 

A  ffynde  ys  the  withein  !  465 

AWECHRISTUS.     Thowe  liest  falsly,  I  the  tell  ! 
Thowe  wilbe  dampnyd  into  hell. 
I  made  the,  mon,  of  fleshe  &  fell, 

And  all  That  ys  lyvyng  ; 
ffor  other  god 7  haue  you  non  ; 
Therefor  wurship  me  Alon, 
The  wyche  hasse  made  the  water  and  ston, 

And  all  at  my  lykyng.  473 

1  Wr.  done.  4  A  stroke  through  1. 

2  Instead  of  youre,  Wr.  has  in  twentie  devilles. 

8  After  this  H.  has:  all  this  people  thou  begyles  and  puttes  them  all  to 
<p:iine.      8  Wr.  paine.      6  This  line  is  not  in  Wr.      7  Wr.  Codes ;  H.  godds. 


1 88  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

ENNOKE.     fforsothe  thowe  lyes  fulfalsly  ! l 
Thowe  art  A  ffende  commyn  to  Any 
Goddw  peple  that  stondz'j  us  bye  ; 

In  hell  I  wolde  thoM  were. 

H  ELY  AS.     ffye  on  the,  felon  !  fye  on  the  !  fye  ! 
ffor  All  thy  wychecrafte  &  socerye,2 
To  mote  3  with  the  I  am  Redye, 

That  All  the  peple  may  here.  481 


Out  on  you,  harlottys  !  whens  come 
ye  ? 

Where4  haue  you  other  god  then5  me? 
ENNOKE.     Yes  ;  crist,  god  in  trenyte, 

Thow  ffalse  ffayture  Attaynte  ! 
That  send  his6  son  from  hevon  see, 
That  for  mon  kynd  dyed  on  Rode  tree, 
That  shall  fullsone  make  the  to  flee, 

Thowe  ffeaytir  false  and  ffaynte  !  489 

p.  14.   AKTECffKlsrus.     Rybaldz'j  Riuelid7  out  of  Raye, 
What  ys  the  trenyte  to  saye  ? 
HELYAS.     Thre  persons,  as  thowe  leue  may, 

In  on  godhede  in  ffere  : 
ffather  and  son,  that  ys  no  nay, 
And  the  holly  goost,  stryrring  Aye  : 
That  ys  one  god  verey ; 

Ben  all  thre  namyd  hen?.  497 


Out  on  you,  thevys  !   what  say  ye? 
Wyll  ye  haue  bothe  one  8  god  And  iije  ? 

Howe  darr  ye  so  say? 
Maddmen,  therefor  levys  9  on  me 

1  Wr.  omits  ful.  2  Wr.  sorcerye;  but  cf.  p.  157,  1.  104. 

8  This  looks  a  little  more  like  mote  than  mete  ;  Wr.  has  mote. 

*  Wr.  also  has  this  form  of  whether. 

6  Wr.  any  other  godes  but. 

6  MS.  has  a  second  his,  under-dotted  for  omission  by  a  later  hand. 

1  Wr.  ruled. 

8  A  stroke  over  e.  9  Wr.  Madmen,  maddmen,  leeve. 


ANTICHRIST.  189 

That  am  one  god,  —  so  is  not  he  ! 
Then  may  ye  lyue  in  loye  &  lee, 

All  tbz's  londe  I  darr  lay.  504 

ENNOKE.     Nay,  tyrand  ;  vnd<?rstond  thou  this  : 
But1  beginnyng  hzj  godhed  ys 
And  also  boute  1  ending,  ywys  ; 

Thus  fully  levon  we. 
And  thowe,  that  genderyd  2  wos  Amys, 
Hasse3  beginnyng  &  nowe  that4  blisse, 
And  8  ende  shall  haue  —  no  drede  there  ys  — 

ffull  6  ffoule,  as  men  shall  se.  512 


Whrecchys,  golys,7  ye  ben  blent  ! 
Goddis  son  I  am,  from  hym  sente. 
Howe  darr  you  maynten  youre  entente, 

Sithe  he  and  I  ben  won  ?  8 
Haue  I  not,  sithe  I  cam  hym  froo, 
Made  the  dede  to  speke  9  and  goo  ? 
And  tho  10  men  I  sende  u  my  goste  Also 

That  levyd12  me  Apon.  520 

HELYAS.     fye  on  the,  felone  !  fye  on  the  !  fye  ! 
ffor  thrughe  his  myght  &  his  13  maistrye,1* 
By  sufferaunce  15  of  god  Allmyghtye, 

The  people  16  ys  blent  thrughe  the. 
Yff  tho  17  men  be  Raysyd,  witterlye, 
W/t^outen  the  devuls  ffantasye, 
Here  shall  be  prevyd  App^rtely, 

That  all  men  shall  see.  528 

1  Wr.  Without.  W  Wr.  to. 

2  Wr.  ingendred.  u  Wr.  sente. 

8  Wr.  haste.  &  Wr.  leeve. 

*  Wr.  this.  13  Wr.  omits  his. 

5  Wr.  An.  14  This  was  at  first  read  marsaye, 

6  Wr.  Fully.  15  A  stroke  over  aun. 

7  Wr.  glowes.  16  A  stroke  through  1. 

«  Wr.  one.  W  Wr.  thoes  ;  W.  thees. 

9  Wr.  rise. 


IQO  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

p.  15.   AmvcifRfsrus.     A!1  ffolys,  I  Redd  you  leue  me 

Apone, 

That  myracles  haue  shewyd  2  manyon 
To  the  peple  eu<?rychone, 

To  put  theme  out  of  Doute. 
Therefor,  I  Rede  you,  hastely 
Converter  to  me  most  myghty  ; 
I  shall  you  saue  from  Anye, 

And  1  that  I  am  Aboute.  536 

ENNOKE.     Nowe,  of  thy  Myracles  I  wold  see. 
HELIAS.     Therfor  comyn  hether  be  we, 
To  se  3  what  ys  thy  grete  postye, 

And  some  therof  to  lere. 

ANTECffRfsrus.     Sone  may  ye  se  if  you  will  byde  ; 
ffor  I  wyll  nother  fyght  nor  chyde. 
Off1  *  all  the  worlde  that  ys  so  wyde 

Therin  ys  not  my  pere.  544 

ENNOKE.     Bryng  ffurthe  those  men  here  in  our  syght 
That  thoM  hase  Raysyd  Agayn  6  the  Ryght  ; 
Yf  thowe  be  of  so  6  mycle  might 

To  make  theym  ete  and  drynke, 
ffor  verey  god  we  wyll  the  knowe,  — 
such  A  sygne  yf  thow  wyll  shewe,  — • 7 
And  do  the  Reu^rence  on  A  Rowe, 

All  at  thy  lykyng.  552 

ANTEC7//?AST£/s.     Wrecches  dampnyd  all  be  ye, ' 
But  noght  for  that  yt  fallyth  me, 
As  gracius  god,  Abyding  be 

Yf  ye  wyll  mende  youre  liffe. 
Ye  dede  men,  Ryse  thrughe  my  postye, 
And8  ete  and  drynke  that  men  may  see, 

'•  Almost  illegible.  6  Wr.  againste. 

2  Wr.  showed  to.  6  Wr.  omits  so. 

8  Wr.  Doe  for  To  se.  7  This  was  at  first  read  showe. 

*  Perhaps  for  Off*  ;  Wr.  Of.  8  \yr.  Come. 


ANTICHRIST.  19! 

And  proue  me  worthest  in  deyte  ; l 

So  shalle  we  stynt  All  stryffe.  560 

PRIMUS  MORTUUS.     Lorde,  thy  bydding  I  will  do  Aye, 

And  for  to  etc  I  will  Assaye. 

SECUNDUS  MORTUU-s1.2     And  I  also,  all  that  I  maye, 

Wyll  do  thy  byddyng  here. 
16.    HELIAS.     Hand  here  brede,  bothe  two  ; 
But  I  most  blesse  hyt  or  I  goo, 
That  the  fende,  mankynd/j  ffoo, 

One  hit  haue  no  powere.  568 

Thys  brede  I  blesse  now  with  my  honde 
In  Ih^jus  name,  I  vnderstonde, 
The  wych  ys  lorde  of  see  and  londe 

And  kyng  in  hevon  so  hye  : 
In  nomine  patris,  that  all  hathe  wroghte, 
Et  filii  virginis,  that  dere  vs  boughte, 
Et  spyrytus  sanctt,  ys  all  my  thoghte, — 

One  god  and  parsons  thre.  576 

PRIMUS  8  MORTUU^.2     Alas!    put  that4  oute  of  my 

syghte  ; 

To  loke  on  yt  I  am  not  light,  — 
That  Pryntte  that  ys  vpon  yt 6  pight 

Hit  puttythe  me  to  grett  ffere. 

SECUNDUS  MORTUU^.2    To  loke  on  hit  I  am  not  light, 
That  brede  to  Me  yt  ys  so  bryght, 
And  ys  my  ffoe  bothe  day  and  nyght 

And  puttys  me  to  grete  dere.6  584 

ENNOKE.     Nowe,  ye  men  that  haue  donne  mis,7 
Ye  seey 8  well  what  hz'j  powere  ys. 

1  Wr.  worthye  of  dietie. 

2  MS.  mortuuK.r.  5  vpon  yt  is  almost  illegible. 

3  MS.  Primus?^.  7  Wr.  amisse. 

4  Wr.  that  bread.  8  \yr.  see. 

8  Written  aver  another  word ;  Wr.  has  dreade  ;  dere  is  right. 


CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

Convert/.?  to  hym,  I  Rede  I  wysse, 

That  you  on  Rode  haue  l  boughte. 
TERCIUS  REX.     A  ! 2  now  we  knowyn  apertly 
We  haue  ben  broghte  in  herysye  ; 
\iiih  you  to  dethe  we  will  for  thy, 

And  neuer  eft  turne  ourre  thought.  592 

QUART  CAS"  REX.     Nowe,  Ennoke  and  helye,  it  ys  no 

nay, 

Haue  8  tayntyd  the  Tyrant,  this  same  day. 
Blest  be  Ihesu  borne  of  A  may, 
On  hym  I  leue  A  pon  ! 4 

REX.     Thowe  fayture,  that  ferde5  viiiA  fan- 
tesye, 

socerye,  wycchrafte  6  &  nygrymancye, 
Thowe  hasse  vs  led 7  in  heresye,  — 

ffye  on  thy  werkys  ychon  !  600 

p.  17.    SEC£WDUS  REX.     Ihesu,  for  thy  mycle  grace, 
fforgeve  vs  all  oure  tresspas, 
And  bryng  us  to  the  hye  hevynly  place 

As  thowe  art  god  And  mon  ! 
Nowe  am  I  wyse  made  thrughe  thy  myght  ; 
Blessyd  be  thowe,8  Ihmi,  day  and  nyght  ! 
This9  grysely  grome  graythzj  hym*  to  fyght 

To  sle  9  us  here  Anon.  608 

TERCit/51  REX.     Off  oure  lyvys  lett  us  not  Reche, 
Thoghe  we  be  slayne  of  such  A  wreche 
ffor  Ihesu  sake,  that  may  vs  leche,9 

Oure  sowlys  to  bryng  to  blysse  ! 
QUARTUS  REX.    That  wos  well  sayde  &  so  I  sente  ; 10 

1  Wr.  hath,  and  so  Dr.  Furnivall  reads  here. 

2  Wr.  And,  which  Dr.  Furnivall  is  inclined  to  see  here. 

8  Wr.  You  have.  7   le  above  the  line. 

4  Wr.  has  the  same  line.  8  Wr.  omits  thowe. 

5  Wr.  Thou  feature,  fere.  9  Almost  illegible. 

6  Error  of  scribe.  10  Wr.  assente. 


ANTICHRIST.  1 93 

To  dye,  for  sothe,  ys  myn  intent 
ffor  Christes l  loue l  own/potende,1 

In  cause  that  ys  Ryghtwyse.  616 

ANTECRISTUS.    A  ! 2  falsse  faytures,  turne  you  nowe  ? 
Ye  shalbe  slayne,  I  make  A  vowe  ; 
And  those  Traytours  that  turnyd  you, 

I  shall  make  theym  vnfayn, 
That  all  other  by  verey  sight 
Snail  knowe  that  I  am  most  of  myght, 
ffor  wit/1  this  sworde  nowe  wyll  I  fyght ; 

ffor  all  ye  shalbe  Slayne.  624 

Tune  Antechristus  occidet  Enoke  et  Elia-m  et  omnes3  converses  cum 
gladio,  et  Redebit  ad  chathedram ;  cui*  dicat  Michaell  cum  gladio  in 
maim  sua  dextra  : B 

MICHAELL.     Antecrist,  nowe  ys  comyn  thy  day  ; 
Reigne  no  longer  thowe  ne  maye  ! 
He  that  hath  iaad  the  Alwey, 

Nowe  hym  thowe  most  go  to. 
No  mo  men  shalbe  shente  6  by  the  ; 
My  lorde  wyll,  dede  that  tho\\  be  ; 
He  that  hath  gyvon  the  thz's  7  poste 

Thy  soule  shall  vnder  foo.  632 

In  syn  Ingendirt  furst  tho\\  wos, 
In  syn  Als8  lade  thy  lyfe  thowe  hasse, 
p.  1 8.    In  Syn  nowe  An  ende  thowe  mas, 

That  marryd  hasse  monyon. 
Thowe  hasse  euer  s^ruyd  sathanas 
And  had  hys  power  in  eu^ry  place  ; 
Thercfo  9  thowe  gayttys  nowe  no  grace,  — 

v/iiA  hym  thowe  most  gon.10  640 

1  Almost  illegible.  6  Wr.  slayne. 

2  This  was  at  first  read  as  Ve,  -which  may  be  a  bad  spelling  of  the  ex 
clamation  we ;  Wr.  has  A !  7  Wr.  his. 

a  Wr.  omnes  reges.  8  Wr.  omits  Als. 

*  Wr.  cum.  9  Error  of  scribe. 

6  Wr.  in  dexter  a  sua.  io  In  Wr.  lines  63  7-640  follow  648. 


194  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

iij  yere  and  An  halffe  on,  wytterlye, 
Thowe  hasse  hadde  leue  to  distrye 
Goddz'j  people l  wykkydlye 

Thrughe  thy  fowle  Reede  ; 
Nowe  thowe  shalt  knowe  and  wytt  in  hye 
That  more  ys  goddys  Maystrye  2 
Then  eke  the  devuls  &  thyn  therebye, 

ffor  8  nowe  shalt  thowe  be  dede.  648 

Tune  Mychaell  occidet*  A ntechristum,   et    in   Occidendo  dicat6   Ante- 
christiu  Help  !  Help  !« 

Help  !  sathanas  and  lucyfer, 
Belsabub,  bolde  bacheler, 7 
Ragnayll,8  thowe  art  my  dere  ! 

Nowe  fare  I  wondre  evull  ! 
Alas  !  Alas  !  were  is  my  powere  ? 
Alas,  my  wytt  ys  in  A  were  ! 
Nowe  bodye  and  sowle,  bothe  in  fere, 

And  all  gose  to  the  Devyll  !  656 

Tune  morietur  Antechristus,   et  veniant9  duo    Demones,   quorum  dicat 
primus  demon :  10 

Anon  !  maister,  Anon  !  anon  ! 

ffrom  hell  grounde  I  herde  the  groune ; 

I  thoghte  I  wolde  not  come  myself  Alon 

ffor  wurship  of  thyn  Astate. 
Wzt^  vs  to  hell  thowe  shalt  gon. 
ffor  this  deth  we  make  gret  mon, 
To  wyn  moo  sowlys  into  oure  won  ;ai 

But  nowe  hit  ys  to  late.  664 

SECUJVDUS  DEMON.    W/'t^  me  thowe  shall ;  fro  me 

thowe  come  ; 
Off  me  shall  come  thy  last  Dome, 

1  A  stroke  through  1.  7  Wr.  balacher. 

2  Wr.  magistie ;  W.  magistrie.  8  Wr.  Ragnell,  Ragnell. 
8  Wr.  omits  ffor.                                   9  Wr.  venient. 

4  Wr.  occidit.  10  Wr.  et  dicunt  ut  sequitv 

6  Wr.  clamat ;  W.  clamav!.'-  n-  Wr.  pon. 

6  Wr.  helpe  twice  more 


ANTICHRIST.  1 95 

ffor  thowe  hasse  well  deseruyd  ! 
And  thrughe  my  might  &  my  poste 
Thowe  hasse  lyuyd  in  dignyte 

And  mony  a  Sawle  deceyuyd.  670 

p.  19.    PRIMES  DEMON.      This   body  was   getton   by   myn 

Assente 

In  clene  horedom  verament ; 
Off  mother  wombe  or  that  he  wente, 

I  wos  hym  wz't^  in, 

And  taghte  hym*  Ay  wzt^  1  myn  entente 
Syne,  by  wyche  he  shalbe  shente  ; 
ffor  he  dyd  my  comawndemente 

His  sowle  shall  neuer  blyn.  678 

SECUJVD us  DEMON.      Nowe,   felow,   in   faythe,   gret 

mon  we  may  make 

ffor  this  lorde  of  a  state2  that  stond«  in 8  styde  ; 
Mony  A  fatt  morsell  we  haue  had  for  his  sake 

Off  Sowlys  that  shulde  haue  be  sauyd  ;  —  in  hell 

be  tk\&  *  hyd.5  •  682 

A  nirnam  eius  (imc  captatf 

PRIM  us  DEMON.     His  sowle  -witA  sorowe  in  honde 

haue  I  hente  ; 

He 7  penawnce  and  payne  sone  shall  he  fele  ; 
To  Lucyffer,  that  lord,  yt  shalbe  presente, 

That  bren  shall  as  a  bronde  ;  —  his  sorow  shall 

not  kele.8  686 

SECUWDUS  DEMON.  This  proctor  of  prophecye  hasse 

procuryd  monyon 
On  his  lawe  for  to  leue,  and  lost9  for  his  sake. 

1  Wr.  eever/or  Ay  w/t4.  ?  Wr.  (H.)  Yea. 

2  Wr.  of  estate.  «  Wr.  (H.)  feele. 
8  Wr.  in  this.  9  Wr.  (H.)  lose. 
*  Read  thei. 

6  Wr.  shoulde  bene  hange  in  hel  by  the  head. 

6  Wr.  from  H. :    Tune  aufertur  corpus  Antechristi  a  demonibus.     W. 
lacks  lines  683-694  ;  Wr.  prints  them  from  H: 


196  CHESTER    WHITSUN    PLAYS. 

Theyre  sowlys  ben  in  sorowe,  And  h/V  shalbe  sone. 
Such  maisters  l  thrughe  my   myght  mo«ion    I  2 

make.  690 

PRIM  us  DEMON.     Vfiih  lucyfer,  that  lorde,  long  shall 

he  lenge  ; 

In  a  sete  Ay  with  sorowe  wz't^  hym  shall  he  sytt. 
SE.CUNGUS  DEMON.     Ye,  by  the  halse8  in  hell  shall 

he  henge, 
In  a  du«gen  full  depe,  ryght  in  hell  pytt.  694 


DEMON.     To  hell  wyll  I  hye  with  out  ony 
f  ayle,  4 
With  this  present  of  pryce  thedure  5  to  bryng. 

DEMON.     Thowe  take  hym  by  the  tope  & 
I  by  the  tayle  ; 
An  soryfull  song,  in  faythe,  shall  he  senge.  698 

6  PRIMES  DEMON.     A!   felowe,  A  doule7  loke  that 

thowe  8  dele 
To    all    this    fayr    compayny,    hence    or9   thovn 

wynde  !  10 
SECUATDUS  DEMON.    Ye,  sorowe  and  care  euer  shall 

they  sele  ;  n 
In  hell  shall  they  dwell  at  theyr  last  ende  !  702 

Tune  ibunt  demones  Ad  infernum  ad  Animam1*  A  ntecluisti  ;  et  surge&t 
ennoke  et  helyas,  quorum  Dicat  Ennoke  : 

p.  20.    ENNOKE.     A  !  lorde,  that  all18  shall  lede 
And  bothe  deme  u  the  quycke  and  dede, 

1  Wr.  (H.)  maystryes.  8  Wr.  (H.)  thou  now. 

2  Wr.  (H.)  do  I.  9  Wr.  (H.)  er. 

8  Wr.  (H.)  heeles.  10  Wr.  (H.)  wend. 

<  Wr.  (W.)  fay[l]e.  u  MS.  clearly  sele  ;  but  read  fele. 

6  Wr.  (W.)  theither.  12  Read  cum  anima. 

6  These  four  lines  with  the  stage  direction  after   702  are  not    in  W 
II.  apparently  lacks  only  tlie  stage  direction.        !8  H.  alle  the  world. 

7  Wr.  (H.)  dole.  w  H.  deme  both. 


ANTICHRIST.  1 97 

That  Reu^rence  the,  thowe  on  theym  Rede 

And  theym  thrughe  Right  Releuyd!1 
I  wos  dede  and  Right  here  slayne, 
But  thrughe  thy  myghte,  lord,2  &  thy  mayne 
Thowe  hasse  me  Raysyd  vp  Agayne. 

The  wyll  I  loue  and  leue  !  710 

HELYAS.     Ye,  lorrde,  blessyd  most  tho\i  be ! 
My  fleshe  nowe  gloryfyed  I  see. 
Witt/J  ne  8  sleightte  4  ageeynste  4  the 

Conspyryd4  may  be  no  way. 
Alle  that  levon  in  the  stydfastly 
Thow  helpis,  lorde,  ffrom  all  Any, 
ffor  dede  I  wos  and  nowe  lyue  I. 

Honuryd4  be  thowe  Aye  !  5  718 

MYCHAELL.     Ennoke  and  helye,  com  ye  Anon  ; 
My  lorde  wyll  that  ye  4  with  4  me  gon 
To  hevens  4  blysse,  botthe  4  blude  &  bon, 

ULuer  mo  there  to  be.6 

Ye  4  have  4  ben  4  long,  —  for  ye  ben  wyse,  — 
Dwellyng  4  in  erthlye  paradyce  ; 
But4  to  heven,4  there  hym  selffe  ys, 

Nowe  4  shall  ye  goe  withe  me.  726 

Tune  ibit  Angelus  adducens  ennok  et  Helyam  ad  celum  cantans :  "  Gau- 
dtte  iusti  in  domino,"  &c.7 

Explicit. 

1  So  Wr. ;  but  read  releeve  with  H.  4  Almost  illegible. 

2  Wr.  omits  lord.  5  \Vr.  ever. 
*  Wr.  Witte  ner ;  with  no  is  possible. 

6  The  *vhole  line  is  almost  illegible. 

~  Wr.  Tune  abducens  eos  (W.  omnes)  ad  cehim  cantabit  (W.  cantebif) 
angelns  (W.  angellus)  :  "  Gaudete  iusti  in  Domino." 


YORK   CORPUS   CHRISTI  PLAYS. 


For  information  as  to  the  source  of  the  text  and  the  meaning  of  the  symbols,  see 
p.  153- 


[THE  JUDGMENT  DAY.]  1 
The  Merceres. 

Deus  incipit. 

[DEUS.]     Firste  when  I  Mis  worlde  hadde  wroght, — 

Woode  and  wynde  and  wateris  wan, 
And  all-kynne  thyng  Mat  nowe  is  oght,  — 

Fulle  wele  me  Moght  Mat  I  did  Manne  ; 
Whenne  Mei  were  made,  goode  me  Mame  2  Moght. 

Sethen  to  my  liknes  made  I  man  ; 
And  man  to  greue  8  me  gaffe  he  noght : 

J^erfore  me  rewis  Mat  I  began.4  8 

Whanne  I  had  made  man  at  my  will, 

I  gaffe  hym  wittis  hym-selue  to  wisse, 
And  Paradise  I  putte  hym  till, 

And  bad  hym  halde  it  all  as  his. 
But  of  Me  tree  of  goode  and  ill 

I  saide,  "  What  tyme  Mou  etis  of  Mis, 
Manne,  Mou  spedes  Mi-selue  to  spill,  — 

T^ou  arte  broght  oute  of  all 5  blisse."  16 

1  Supplied  by  Y.  8  K.  -wishes  to  read  plese. 

2  Ho.  i/iai.  5  K.  inserts  thi. 

4  Y.  has  I  the  worlde  began  ;  K.  omits  either  the  worlde  or  T^erfore. 


THE   JUDGMENT    DAY.  I 99 

Belyue  brak  manne  my  bidding  ;   , 

He  wende  haue  bene  a  god  Merby, 
He  wende  haue  wittyne  of  all-kynne  thyng, 

In  worlde  to  haue  bene  als  wise  as  I  : 
He  etc  the  appill  I  badde  schulde  hyng  ; 

Thus  was  he  begilid  thurgh  glotony. 
Sithen  both  hym  and  his  ospring 

To  pyne  I  putte  Mame  all  for-thy,  24 

To  lange  and  late  me  Moghte  it  goode l 

To  catche  Mois  caitiffis  oute  of  care. 
I  sente  my  sone,  with  full  blithe  moode, 

Till  erMe  to  salue  Mame  of  Mare  sare  ; 
For  rewMe  of  Mame  he  reste  on  roode 

And  boughte  Mame  with  his  body  bare  ; 
For  Mame  he  shedde  his  harte  bloode : 2 

What  kyndinesse  myght  I  do  Mame  mare?  32 

Sethen  aftirwarde  he  heryed  hell, 

And  toke  oute  Mois  wrechis  Mat  ware  Mare-inne  ; 
Th&r  faughte  Mat  free  with  feendis  feele 

For  Mame  Mat  ware  sounkyn  for  synne. 
Sethen  in  erthe  Man  gonne  he  dwelle, 

Ensaumpill  he  gaue  Mame  heuene  to  wynne, 
In  tempill  hym-selffe  to  teche  and  tell, 

To  by  Mame  blisse  Mat  neuere  may  blynne.  40 

Sethen  haue  Mei  founde  me  full  of  mercye, 

Full  of  grace  and  for-giffenesse  ; 
And  Mei  als  wrecchis,  wittirly, 

Has  ledde  Mer  liffe  in  lithirnesse  ; 
Ofte  haue  Mei  greued  me  greuously  : 

Thus  have  Mei  quitte  me  my  kyndinesse  ; 
7%er-fore  no  lenger,  sekirlye, 

Thole  will  I  Mare  wikkidnesse.  48 

l  K.  'reads  yoode.  2  Ho. ;  Y.  harte  and  bloode. 


2OO  YORK    CORPUS    CHRISTI    PLAYS. 

Men  seis  Me  worlde  but  vanite, 

3itt  will  no-manne  be  ware  Mer-by  ; 
like  a  day  Mer  mirroure  may  Mei  se, 

3itt  thynke  Mei  no^t  Mat  Mei  schall  dye. 
All  Mat  euere  I  saide  schulde  be 

Is  nowe  fulfillid  thurgh  prophicie  ; 
Ther-fore  nowe  is  it  tyme  to  me 

To  make  endyng  of  mannes  folie.  56 

I  haue  tholed  mankynde  many  a  ^ere 

In  luste  and  likyng  for  to  lende, 
And  vnethis  fynde  I  ferre  or  nere 

A  man  Mat  will  his  misse  amende ; 
In  erthe  I  see  butte  synnes  seere  : 

Therfore  myne  aungellis  will  I  sende 
To  blawe  Mer  bemys,  Mat  all  may  here. 

The  tyme  is  comen  I  will  make  ende.  64 

Aungellis,  blawes  youre  bemys  belyue, 

like  a  creatoure  for  to  call ! 
Leerid  and  lewde,  both  man  and  wiffe, 

Ressayue  Mer  dome  Mis  day  thei  schall, — 
like  a  leede  Mat  euere  hadde  liffe  ; 

Bese  none  for-getyn,  grete  ne  small. 
Ther  schall  Mei  see  Me  woundes  fyve 

7%at  my  sone  suffered  for  Mem  all.  72 

And  sounderes  Mame  be-fore  my  sight ! 

All  same  in  blisse  schall  Mei  not  be. 
My  blissid  childre,  as  I  haue  hight, 

On  my  right  hande  I  schall  Mame  see  ; 
Sethen  schall  ilke  a  weried  wight 

On  my  lifte  side  for  ferdnesse  flee, 
day  Mer  domys  Mus  haue  I  dight, 

To  ilke  a2  man  as  he  hath  serued  me.  80 


1  K.  rejects  a. 


THE    JUDGMENT    DAY.  2OI 

I.1  ANG.     Loued  be  Mou,  Lorde,  of  myghtis  moste, 

7%at  aungell  made  to  messengere  ! 
Thy  will  schall  be  fulfillid  in  haste, 

7/&at  heuene  and  erthe  and  helle  schall  here. 

\He  makes  the  proclamation.] 

Goode  and  ill,  euer  ilke  a  gaste,2 

Rise,  fecche  8  youre  flessh,  Mat  was  youre  feere  ! 
For  all  Mis  worlde  is  broght  to  waste. 

Drawes  to  youre  dome  !  it  neghes  nere.  88 

n.  ANG.     like  a  creature,  both  olde  and  yhing, 

Be-lyue  I  bidde  ^ou  Mat  }e  ryse  ; 
Body  and  sawle  with  jou  36  bring, 

And  comes  be-fore  Me  high  justise  ! 
For  I  am  sente  fro  heuene  kyng 

To  calle  $ou  to  Mis  grette  assise  ; 
T^erfore  rise  vppe,  and  geue  rekenyng 

How  ^e  hym  serued  vppon  sere  wise.  96 

[  The  dead  rise  and  speak."] 

i.  ANIMA  BONA.     Loued  be  Mou,  Lorde,  Mat  is  so  schene, 

7/fcat  on  Mis  manere  made  vs  to  rise, 
Body  and  sawle  to-gedir,  clene, 

To  come  before  Me  high  justise. 
Of  oure  ill  dedis,  Lorde,  Mou  not  mene, 

That  we  haue  wroght  vppon  sere  wise  ; 
But  graunte  vs  for  thy  grace  bedene 

we  may  wonne  in  paradise.  104 


n.  AN.  BONA.     A  !  loued  be  Mou,  Lorde  of  all, 
T^at  heuene  and  erthe  and  all  has  wroght, 
with  Myne  aungellis  wolde  vs  call 
Oute  of  oure  graues,  hidir  to  be  broght. 

1  1  have  not  followed  Y.  always  in  the  abbreviations  of  the  names. 

2  Y.  euery  ilke  agaste;  He.  euery  ilke  a  gaste. 

s  Y.  Rise  and  fecche  ;  K.  rejects  the  first  youre. 


2O2         YORK  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

Ofte  haue  we  greued  th&  grette  and  small,  — 

Ther-aftir,  Lorde,  Mou  deme  vs  noght  ! 
Ne  suffir  vs  neuere  to  fendis  to  be  thrall, 

T^at  of te  in  er/^e  with  synne  vs  soght !  112 

i.  ANIMA  MALA.     Alias,  alias  !  that  we  were  borne  ! — 

So  may  we  synfull  kaytiffis  say. 
I  here  wele  be  //zis  hydous  home 

Itt  drawes  full  nere  to  domesday. 
Alias  !  we  wrecchis  th-&.\.  ar  for-lorne, 

7/fcat  never  3itt  serued  God  to  paye, 
But  ofte  we  haue  his  flessh  for-sworne  ; 

(Alias,  alias,  and  welaway  ! )  1 20 

What  schall  we  wrecchis  do  for  drede, 

Or  whedir  for  ferdnes  may  we  flee, 
When  we  may  bringe  forthe  no  goode  dede 

Before  hym  thzk  oure  juge  schall  be  ? 
To  aske  mercy  vs  is  no  nede, 

For  wele  I  wotte  dampned  be  we. 
Alias,  that  we  swilke  liffe  schulde  lede 

T^at  dighte  vs  has  Mis  destonye  !  128 

Oure  wikkid  werkis  thzi  will  vs  wreye, 

7%at  we  wende  never  schuld  haue  bene  weten  ; 
7%at  we  did  ofte  full  pryuely, 

Appertely  may  we  se  them,  wreten. 
Alias,  wrecchis,  dere  mon  we  by  ! 

Full  smerte  with  helle-fyre  be  we  smetyn. 
Nowe  mon  neuere  saule  ne  body  dye, 

But  with  wikkid  peynes  euermore  be  betyne.  136 

Alias  !  for  drede  sore  may  we  quake  ; 

Oure  dedis  beis  oure  dampnacioune. 
For  oure  mys  menyng l  mon  we  make  ; 

Helpe  may  none  excusacioune. 

1  Y.  mys-meuyng;  Ho.  mys-menyng  ;  but  mys  is  a  noun,  and  mon  a  verb. 


THE   JUDGMENT    DAY.  2O3 

We  mon  be  sette  for  our  synnes  sake 

For-euere  fro  oure  saluacioune, 
In  helle  to  dwelle  with  feendes  blake, 

Wher  neuer  schall  be  redempcioune.  144 

ii.  AN.  MALA.     Als  carefull  caitiffis  may  we  ryse, 

Sore  may  we  ringe  oure  handis  and  wepe  ; 
For  cursidnesse  and  for  covetise 

Dampned  be  we  to  helle  full  depe. 
Rought  we  neuere  of  Goddis  seruise, 

His  comaundementis  wolde  we  no^t  kepe  ; 
But  ofte  than,  made  we  sacrafise 

To  Satanas  when  othir  slepe.1  152 

Alias  !  now  wakens  all  oure  were  ; 

Oure  wikkid  werkis  may  we  not  hide, 
But  on  oure  bakkis  vs  muste  2  Mem  bere, 

Thei  wille  vs  wreye  on  ilke  a  side. 
I  see  foule  feendis  Mat  wille  vs  feere, 

And  all  for  pompe  of  wikkid  pride. 
Wepe  we  may  with  many  a  teere  ; 

Alias,  Mat  we  Mis  day  schulde  bide  !  160 

Before  vs  playnly  bese  fourth  brought 

TAe  dedis  Mat  vs  schall  dame  be-dene. 
That  eres  has  herde  or  harte  has  Moght 

Sen  any  tyme  Mat  we  may  mene, 
That  fote  has  gone  or  hande  has  wroght, 

That  mouthe  has  spoken  or  ey  has  sene,  —  8 
This  day  full  dere  thanne  bese  it  boght. 

Alias,  vnborne  and  we  hadde  bene  !  *  168 

ill.  ANG.     Standis  noght  to-gedir  !  parte  you  in  two  ! 
All  sam  schall  36  noght  be  in  blisse. 

1  T.  othere  can  slepe ;  Ho.  othir  did  (or  can)  slepe. 

2  Ho.  bus;  but  T.  also  has  must. 
8  T.  interchanges  164  and  166. 

4  He.  prefers  T. :  Alias  vnborne  then  had  I  bene !  Ho.  rejects  this. 


2O4         YORK  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

Oure  Lorde 1  of  heuene  woll  it  be  soo, 

For  many  of  yowe  has  wroght  amys. 
Ye  2  goode,  on  his  right-hande  }e  goe, 

Th&  way  till  heuene  he  will  you  wisse  ; 
3e  weryed  wightis,  36  flee  hym  frdo 

On  his  lefte-hande,  as  none  of  his.  176 

DEUS.S     TMs  woffull  worlde  is  brought  till  ende ; 

My  Fadir  of  heuene  he  woll  it  be. 
T^erfore  till  erMe  nowe  will  I  wende, 

Mi-selue  to  sitte  in  mageste. 
To  deme  my  domes  I  woll  descende  ; 

T^is  body  will  I  bere  with  me  ; 
How  it  was  dight,  mannes  mys  to  mende, 

All  mankynde  Mere  schall  it  see.  184 

[Jesus  descends  to  earth  in  a  cloud,  and,  before  assuming  the  Judgment  Seat, 
speaks  :] 

DEUS.     Mi  postelis  and  my  darlyngis  dere, 

7%e  dredful  dome  Mis  day  is  dight. 
Both  heuen  and  erthe  and  hell  schall  here 

How  I  schall  hold  Mat  I  haue  hight, 
That  ^e  schall  sitte  on  seetis  sere 

Be-side  my-selffe,  to  se  Mat  sight, 
And  for  to  deme  folke  ferre  and  nere 

Aftir  Mer  werkyng  wronge  or  right.  192 

I  saide  also  whan  I  you  sente 

To  suifre  sorowe  for  my  sake, 
All  Mo  Mat  wolde  Mame  right  repente 

Schulde  with  you  wende  and  wynly  wake  ; 
And  to  youre  tales  who  toke  no  tente 

Shulde  fare  to  fyre  with  fendis  blake. 

1  Y.  My  fadir ;  the  text  is  from  T.  (by  He.) 
«  Y.  TAe. 

8  Miss  Smith  points  out  that  this  is  not  God  the  Father,  -who  appeared  at 
the  beginning  of  the  pageant,  but  God  the  Son. 


THE   JUDGMENT    DAY.  2O5 

Of  mercy  nowe  may  no^t  be  mente  ; 

Butt,  aftir  wirkyng,  welth  or  wrake.  200 

1  My  hetyng  haly  schall  I  fullfille  ; 

Therfore  comes  furth  and  sittis  me  by 
To  here  the.  dome  of  goode  and  ill. 
i.  APOSTOLUS.     2  I  loue  the,  Lord  God  all-myghty  ; 

Late  and  herely,  lowde  and  still, 
To  do  thy  bidding  bayne  am  I ; 

I  obblissh  me  to  do  th\  will 
With  all  my  myght,  als  is  worthy.  208 

II.  APOST.     8  A  !  myghtf ull  God,  here  is  it  sene 

Thou  will  fulfille  th\  forward  right, 
And  all  th\  sawes  thoM  will  maynteyne. 

I  loue  the,  Lorde,  with  all  my  myght, 
T^at  for  4  vs  Mat  has  erthely  bene 

Swilke  dingnitees  has  dressed  and  dight. 
DEUS.     Comes  fourthe  !     I  schall  sitte  }ou  betwene, 

And  all  fulfille  Mat  I  haue  hight.  216 

Hie  ad  sedem  iudicti  cum  cantu  angelorum. 
[Meanwhile  the  devils  prepare  to  attend  the  Jrtdgment.] 

I.  DIABOLUS.     Felas,  arraye5  vs  for  to  fight, 

And  go  we  faste  oure  fee  to  fange  ; 
The.  dredefull  dome  ///is  day  is  dight, 

I  drede  me  Mat  we  dwelle  full  longe. 
ii.  DIAB.     We  schall  be  sene  euere  in  Mer  sight, 

And  warly  waite,  —  ellis  wirke  we  wrange  ;  — 
For  if  the.  domisman  do  vs  right, 

Full  grete  partie  with  vs  schall  gang.  224 

1  Marginal  note  in  later  hand:  What  they  shall  haue  for  y  folly. 

2  In  margin :  Hie  caret  O  soverand  Savyor  de  novo  facto. 
8  In  margin :  de  novo  facto. 

4  Y.  T^er-fore ;  Ha.  Thou  for  vs  that  has  not ;  Ho.  (and  K.)  as  above, 
but  both  seem  to  take  the  (212)  as  def.  article  instead  of  prtnoun. 
6  K.  inserts  we. 


2O6          YORK  CORPUS  CHRISTI  PLAYS. 

in.  DIAB.     He  schall  do  right  to  foo  and  frende, 

For  nowe  schall  all  the  soth  be  sought. 
All  weried  wightis  with  vs  schall  wende, 

To  payne  endles  thei  schall  be  broght.1  228 

DEUS.     like  a  creature,  takes  entent 

What  bodworde  I  to  you2  bringe  : 
This,  wofull  worlde  away  is  wente, 

And  I  am  come  as  crouned  kynge. 
Mi  Fadir  of  heuene  he  has  me  sente 

To  deme  youre  dedis  and  make  ending. 
Comen  is  the  day  of  jugement  ; 

Of  sorowe  may  ilke  a  synfull  synge.  236 

The  day  is  comen  of  kaydyfnes,8 

All  //tarn  to  care  that  are  vnclene, 
The  day  of  bale  and  bittirnes,  — 

Full  longe  abedyn  has  it  bene  !  — 
The  day  of  drede  to  more  and  lesse, 

Of  care,4  of  trymbelyng  and  of  tene, 
That  ilke  a  wight'  Mat  weried  is 

May  say,  Alias,  this  day  is  sene  !  244 

Here  may  }e  se  my  woundes  wide, 

The  whilke  I  tholed  for  youre  mysdede, 
Thurgh  harte  and  heed,  foote,  hande  and  hide, 

Nought  for  my  gilte  butt  for  youre  nede. 
Beholdis  both  body,  bak,  and  side,  — 

How  dere  I  bought  youre  brotherhede  ! 
Thes  bittir  peynes  I  wolde  abide  ; 

To  bye  you  blisse,  thus  wolde  I  bleede.  252 

1 "  In  margin :  Hie  caret  de  novo  facto,  Alas  that  I  was  borne,  dixit 
prima  anima  mala  et  ijda  anima  mala,  de  novo  facto.  And  indeed  four 
lines  are  -wanting  to  the  stanza,  as  shown  by  the  rimes,  though  there  is  no 
blank"  —  Y. 

2  K.  inserts  shall  from  T. 

3  Ho.  corrects  the  spelling  to  kaytyfnes. 

4  Y. :  "  The  copyist  first  -wrote  ire  (a  reminiscence  of  dies  irae)." 


THE    JUDGMENT    DAY.  2O/ 

Mi  body  was  scourged  with-outen  skill  ; 

As  theffe  full  thraly  was  [I]  1  thrette  ; 
On  crosse  Mei  hanged  me  on  a  hill, 

Blody  and  bloo,  as  I  was  bette, 
With  croune  of  thorne  throsten  full  ill ; 

This  spere  vnto  my  side  was  sette  ; 
Myne  harte  bloode  spared  Mei  noght 2  to  spill  : 

Manne,  for  thy  loue  wolde  I  not  lette.  260 

The  Jewes  spitte  on  me  spitously, 

77zei  spared  me  nomore  than  a  theffe. 
When  Mei  me  strake,!  stode3  stilly  ; 

Agaynste  Mam  did  I  no-thyng  greve. 
Behalde,  mankynde,  Mis  ilke  is  I, 

77/at  for  Me  suffered  swilke  mischeue  : 
Th  us  was  1  dight  for  thy  folye  ; 

Man,  loke,  thy  liffe  was  me  4  full  leffe.  268 

Thv&  was  I  dight  Mi  sorowe  to  slake  ; 

Manne,  Mus  behoued  the  borowed  to5  be. 
In  all  my  woo  toke  I  no  wrake  ; 

Mi  will  itt  was  for  the  loue  of  the. 
Man,  sore  aught  the  for  to  quake,6 

T/iis  dredfull  day  Mis  sight  to  see. 
All  Mis  I  suffered  for  Mi  sake  ; 

Say,  man,  what  suffered  Mou  for  me?  276 

Mi  biissid  childre  on  my  right  hande, 

Youre  dome  Mis  day  je  thar  not  drede, 
For  all  youre  comforte  is  command, 

Youre  liffe  in  likyng  schall  ^e  lede. 

1  Supplied  by  Y.from  T. 

2  Ho.  from  T. ;  Y.  has  spared  noght  thei  for  to. 

3  Y.  stode  full  stilly ;  omission  suggested  in  footnote, 

4  Y.  was  to  me ;  omission  suggested  in  footnote. 

5  K.from  T.;  Y.  to  borowed. 

6  T.  has  Man,  for  sorow  aght  the  to  qwake. 


2O8  YORK    CORPUS    CHRISTI    PLAYS. 

Commes  to  the.  kyngdome  ay  lastand 

Thai  3ou  is  dight  for  youre  goode  dede. 
Full  blithe  may  36  be  where  36  stande, 

For  mekill  in  heuene  schall  be  youre  mede.  284 

Whenne  I  was  hungery,  36  me  fedde  ; 

To  slake  my  thirste  youre  harte  was  free ; 
Whanne  I  was  clothles,  36  me  cledde, 

3e  wolde  no  sorowe  vppon  me  see  ; 
In  harde  prisoun l  whan  I  was  stedde, 

Of  my  paynes  2  36  hadde  pitee  ; 
Full  seke  whan  I  was  brought  in  bedde, 

Kyndely  36  come  to  coumforte  me.  292 

Whanne  I  was  wikke  8  and  werieste, 

3e  herbered  me  full  hartefully  ; 
Full  gladde  Manne  were  36  «of  youre  geste, 

And  pleyned  my  pouerte  piteuously  ; 
Be-lyue  36  brought  me  of  the.  beste, 

And  made  my  bedde  full  esyly. 
T^erfore  in  heuene  schall  be  youre  reste, 

In  joie  and  blisse  to  be  me  by.  300 

i.  ANIMA   BONA.      Whanne  hadde  we,  Lorde,  Mat  all  has 
wroght, 

Meete  and  drinke  Me  with  to  feede, 
Sen  we  in  erMe  hadde  neuere  noght 

But  thurgh  Me  grace  of  thy  godhede  ? 
II.  AN.  BONA.     Whanne  waste  Mat  we  Me  clothes  brought  ? 

Or  visite  Me  in  any  nede  ? 
Or  in  Mi  sikenes  we  Me  sought? 

Lorde,  when  did  we  [to]  Me  Mis  dede?  308 

DEUS.     Mi  blissid  childir,  I  schall  3ou  saye 
What  tyme  Mis  dede  was  to  me  done  : 

l  He.  from  T. ;  Y.  presse. 

-  V.  paynes  corrected  in  MS.  from  penaunce.   T.  has  penaunce,  -which  K. 
prefers. 

8  Ho.  wishes  to  substitute  -mlle/rom  T.,  -which  he  says  equals  wilde. 


THE    JUDGMENT    DAY.  2O9 

When  any  that  nede  hadde,  nyght  or  day, 

Askid  3011  helpe  and  hadde  it  sone  ; 
Youre  fre  hartis  saide  Mem  neuere  nay 

Erely  ne  late,  mydday  ne  none  ; 
But  als  ofte  sithis  as  Mei  wolde  praye, 

7#ame  thurte  but  bide,  and  haue  Mer  bone.  316 

3e  cursid  caytiffis  of  Kaymes  kynne, 

T^at  neuere  me  comforte  in  my  care, 
I  and  ^e  for-euer  will  twynne, 

In  dole  to  dwelle  for-euermare. 
Youre  bittir  bales  schall  neuer  blynne 

7%at  36  schall  haue  whan  }e  come  Mare. 
7%us  haue  $e  serued  for  youre  synne, 

For  derffe  dedis  }e  haue  done  are.  324 

Whanne  I  had  mistir  of  mete  and  drynke, 

Caytiffis,  ^e  cacched  me  fro  youre  $ate  ; 
Whanne  }e  were  sette  as  sirs  on  benke, 

I  stode  Mer-oute  werie  and  wette  ; 
Was  none  of  yowe  wolde  on  me  thynke, 

Pyte  to  haue  of  my  poure  state  : 
7%er-fore  till  hell  I  schall  you  synke,  — 

Weele  are  }e  worthy  to  go  Mat  gate.  332 

Whanne  I  was  seke  and  soriest, 

3e  visitte  me  noght,  —  for  I  was  poure  ; 
In  prisoune  faste  when  I  was  feste, 

Was  none  of  you  loked  howe  I  fore  ; 
Whenne  I  wiste  neuere  where  to  l  reste, 

With  dyntes  $e  draffe  me  fro  your  dore  ; 
Butte  euer  to  pride  Manne  were  ^e  preste  ; 

Mi  flessh,  my  bloode,  ofte  je  for-swore.  340 

Clothles  whanne  I  was  ofte,  and  colde, 
At  nede  of  you  2  jede  I  full  naked,  — 

IT.;  Y.  where  for  to. 

2  K.  thinks  this  unintelligible  and  suggests,  on  basis  of  T.,  For  you  nere- 
hand,  etc. 


2IO  YORK    CORPUS    CHRISTI    PLAYS. 

House  ne  herborow,  helpe  ne  holde, 

Hadde  I  none  of  you,  thot  I  quaked. 
Mi  mischeffe  sawe  ye  many-folde  ; 

Was  none  of  you  my  sorowe  slaked, 
Butt  euere  for-soke  me,  yonge  and  aide. 

Theriore  schall  36  nowe  be  for-saked.  348 

i.  ANIMA  MALA.     Whan  had  ///ou,  Lorde,  that  all  thyng  has, 

Hungir  or  thirste,  sen  thou  God  is  ? 
Whan  was  that l  thou  in  prisonne  was  ? 

Whan  was  thou  naked  or  herberles  ? 
n.  AN.  MALA.     Whan  was  it  we  sawe  the  seke,  alias  ? 

Whan  kid  we  the  this  vnkyndinesse  ? 
Werie  or  wette  to  late  the  passe,  — 

When  did  we  the  this  wikkidnesse  ?  356 

DEUS.     Caitiffis,2  als  ofte  als  it  be-tidde 

That  nedfull  aught  askid  in  my  name, 
3e  herde  them  noght,  youre  eris  36  hidde, 

Youre  helpe  to  thame  was  no3t  at  hame,  — 
To  me  was  that  vnkyndines  kyd  ! 

T^ere-fore  ye  bere8  this  bittir  blame. 
To  the  lest  of  myne  when  36  oght  did  4 

To  me  36  did  the  selue  and  same.6  364 

Mi  chosen  childir,  comes  vnto  me  ! 

With  me  to  wonne  nowe  schall  36  wende  ; 
There  joie  and  blisse  schall  euer  be 

Youre  liffe  in  lyking  schall  36  lende. 
3e  cursed  kaitiffis,  fro  me  36  flee, 

In  helle  to  dwelle  with-outen  ende  ; 
Ther  36  schall  neuere  butt  sorowe  see 

6  And  sitte  be  Satanas  the  fende.  372 

1  Inserted  by  Ho.  from  T. 

2  Y.  Caistiffis. 

«T.;  Y.  omits  ye ;  Ho.  ye  beres. 

*  He.  from  T. ;  Y.  To  leste  or  moste  whan  je  it  did. 

6  T. ;  Y.  and  the  same. 

6  In  margin:  nota,  miseremini  mei,  etc. 


THE    JUDGMENT    DAY.  211 

Nowe  is  fulfillid  all  my  for-Moght, 

For  endid  is  all  erthely  thyng. 
All  worldly  wightis  Mat  I  haue  wroght 

Aftir  Mer  werkis  haue  nowe  wonnyng  : 
Thei  Mat  wolde  synne  and  sessid  noght, 

Of  sorowes  sere  now  schall  Mei  syng ; 
And  Mei  Mat  mendid  Mame  whils  Mei  moght, 

Schall  belde  and  bide  in  my  blissing.  380 

Et  sic  facit  finem  cum  melodia  angelorum  transiens  a  loco  ad  locum. 


PART    II. 


DIGBY    PLAYS. 


Reprinted  from  "  The  Digby  Mysteries,  ed.  by  F.  J.  Fumivall,  New  Shakspere 
Society,  1882."  In  the  footnotes,  F.  indicates  this  edition,  which  represents  the 
MS.  unless  the  contrary  is  stated;  S.  indicates  "  Die  Digby-Spiele.  Diss.  v.  K. 
Schmidt,  Berlin,  1884."  The  MS.  is  assigned  to  the  last  decade  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  I  have  disregarded  scribal  flourishes  and  tags. 


[THE  CONVERSION  OF  ST.  PAUL.]1 
{First  Station.'} 

[Enter  POETA  as  PROLOGUE.] 

POETA.2     Rex  glorie,  Kyng  omnipotent, 

Redemer  of  thz  world  by  thy  3  pouer  diuine, 
And  Maria,  that,  pure  vyrgy[«],1  quene  most  excellent, 

Wyche  bare  tha\.  blyssyd  babe,  lesu,  thai  for  vs  sufferd 
pyne,4 

Vnto  whoys  goodnes  I  do  inclyne, 
Besechyng  that.  Lord,  of  hys  pytous  influens, 
To  pr^serue  &  gou^rne  thys  wyrshypfull  audyens.  J 

Honorable  frend^j,  besechyng  yow  of  lycens 

To  precede 5  owr  pr^cesse,  we  may,  vnder  your  cor- 

recczon, 
[Show]  the    conu^rsyon  of    Seynt  Paule,  as  the  Byble  gyf 

experyens. 

Whoo  lyst  to  rede  the  booke  Actum  Appostolorum, 
Ther  shall  he  haue  the  very  notycyon  ; 

1  Supplied  by  F.  *  F.  payne. 

2  Beside  this  a  later  hand  wrote  Myles  Blomefylde. 

8  F.  the.  5  Misunderstood  by  S.,  p.  24. 


2l6  DIGBY    PLAYS. 

But,  as  we  can,  we  shall  vs  redres, 

Brefly  with  yowr  fauo#r  begynyng  owr  prices.         [Exit.}  14 

Daunce.1 

Here  entryth  Saule,  goodly  besene  in  the  best  wyse  lyke  an  aunterous  knyth, 
thus  sayyng : 

SAULUS.     Most  dowtyd  man  I  am  lyuy#g  vpon  the  ground, 
Goodly  besene  with  many  a  riche  garnement ; 2 

My  pere  on  lyue  I  trow  ys  nott  found  ; 

Thorow  thz.  world,  fro  Me  oryent  to  /^e  occydent, 
My  fame  ys  best  knowyn  vndyr  the  fyrmament ; 

I  am  most  drad  of  pepull  vnyu^rsall, 

They  dare  not  dysp[l]ease  me  3  most  noble.  2 1 

Saule  ys  my  name,  —  I  wyll  thai  ye  notyfy,  — 

Whych  conspyreth  the  dyscyplys  with  thret?  &  menace  ; 4 

Be-fore  th&  prynces  of  presto  most  noble  &  hye  5 
I  bring  them  to  punyshemewt  for  ther  trespace. 
We  wyll  them  nott  suffer  to  rest  in  no  place, 

For  they  go  a-bou^te  to  pr^che  &  gyff  exemplis, 

To  destroye  our  lawes,  sinagoges  and  templis.  28 

By  the  god  Bellyall,  I  schall  make  pr^gresse 

Vnto  the  princes,  both  Caypha  and  Anna, 
Wher  I  schall  aske  of  them,  in  suernes, 

To  pursue  thorow  all  Dammask  &  Liba, 

And  thus  we  schall  soone  after  than  6 
Bryng  them  that,  so  do  lyff  in-to  Jerusalem, 
Both  man  and  child  that  I  fynd  of  them.  35 

Her  cummyth  Sale  to  Caypha  &°  Anna,jtirestes  qfthe  tempytt. 

Nobyll  prelates  and  prince  of  regalyte, 

Desyryng  and  askyng  of  yo»r  benyngne  wurthynes 

1  In  a  later  hand.  *  F.  thretes  and  menace. 

2  F.  garlement.  6  p.  hye  and  noble. 
«  F.  my. 

6  This  unrhymed  line  may,  as  Kittredge  suggests,  have  taken  the  place 
of  the  original. 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.  PAUL. 

Yo«r  letters  &  epystolys  of  most  sou^rente 

To  subdue  rebellyous  1  that  wyll,  of  frawardnes, 
A-gaynst  our  lawes  rebell  or  transgresse, 

Nor  wyll  not  inclyne  but  mak  obiecc[z']on,  —  2 

To  pursue  all  such  I  wyll  do  pr^tecczon.  42 

CAYPHA.     To  yo«r  desyer  we  gyf  pi?rfyth  sentens, 

Accordyng  to  yo«r  petyczbns  that  ye  make  postulac/on, 

By- cause  we  know  your  trewe  delygens 
To  pursue  all  tho  that  do  reprobaczon 
A-gayns  ow#r  lawes  by  ony  redarguaczbn  ; 

Wherefor  shortly  we  gyf  in  commandment 

To  put  down  them  that  be  dy[s]obedyent.2  49 

ANNA.     And  by  thes  letturs,  that  be  most  reuerre«t, 

Take  them  in  hand,  full  agre  ther-to. 
Co«streyn  all  rebellys  by  owur  hole  assent ; 

We  gyf  yow  full  power  so  to  doo  ; 

Spare  not,  hardly,  for  frend  nor  foo  ; 
All  thos  ye  fynd  of  that  lyfe  in  thys  realme, 
Bounde  loke  ye  bryng  them  in-to  Jerusalem.  56 

Her  Saule  resayuyth  ther  letters. 

SAULUS.     Thys  precept  here  I  take  in  hande 

To  fullfyll  after  yow«r  wylles  both, 
Wher  I  shall  spare  wz't^-in  this,  londe 

Nother  man  nor  woman, — to  this  I  make  an  oth, — 

But  to  subdue  I  wyll  not  be  loth. 
Now  folow  me,  knytys  &  seraantes  trewe, 
In-to  Damaske  as  fast  as  ye  can  sewe.  63 

L  MiLES.3     Vnto  your  co#zmau«dme«t  I  do  obeysaunce ; 

I  wyll  not  gaynsay  nor  make  delaczbn, 
But  w/'t^  good  mynd  &  harty  plesaunce 

1  F.  rebellyons.  2  Corr.  by  if. 

8  F.  Primus  miles  ;  similarly  below. 


2l8  DIGBY    PLAYS. 

I  shall  yow  succede  &  make  p^rambulaczbn 

Thorow-oute  Damaske  \vi\Jt  all  delectaczbn, 
And  all  that  l  rebell  &  make  resystens, 
ffor  to  oppres  I  wyll  do  my  delygens.  70 

n.  MILES.     And  in  me  shalbe  no  neclygens, 

But  to  thys  precept  my-self  I  shall  applye, 
To  do  yo«r  behest  with  all  cowuenyens, 

WYt/z-owt  eny  frowardnes  or  eny  obstynacy,  — 

Non  shall  appere  in  me,  but,  verely, 
With  all  my  mynd  I  yow  insure, 
To  resyst  tho  rebelk-r  I  wyll  do  my  cure.  77 

SAULUS.     Truly  to  me  yt  ys  grett  consolaczbn 

To  here  thys  report  that  ye  do  avazms. 
ffor  yowr  sapyencyall  wytter  I  gyf  co;;zme«dac/on  ; 

Eu<?r  at  my  nede  I  haue  founde  yow  constant. 

But,  knytes  &  seruauntes,2  that  be  so  plesaunt, 
I  pray  yow  anon  my  palfray  ye  bryng, 
To  spede  my  iurney  wzt^-owt  lettyng.  84 

Here  goyth  Sale  forth  a  lytyll  a-syde  for  to  make  hym  redy  to  ryde,  the 
serujtant  thus  seyng  : 


.     How,  hosteler,  how!     A  peck  of  otys  &  a  botell 
of  haye  ! 

Com  of  a-pase,  or  I  wyll  to  a-noth^r  inne  ! 
What,  hosteler  !  why  cowmyst  not  thy  way? 
Hye  the.  faster,  I  beshrew  th\  skynne  ! 
STABULARYJAS.    I  am  non  hosteler,  nor  no«  hostelers  kynne, 
But  a  ientylmanys  seruuant,  i[f]  thou  dost  know  ! 
Such  crabyysh  \vordes  do  aske  a  blow.  91 

.     I  cry  yow  mercy,  sir  !     I  wyst  well  suw-what  ye 
were, 

Qvither  a  gewtylman  —  or  a  knaue,  me  thynkyth  by  your 
physnomy  ! 

1  F.  thoo,  emend,  by  Kittredge. 

2  F.  servmzntes;  hereafter  I  shall  follow  F. 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.   PAUL.  2IQ 

Yf  on  loke  yow  in  the.  face  thai  neu^r  se  yow  ere, 

Wold  thynk  ye  were  at  the  next  dore  by. 

In  good  fayth,  I  wenyd  yow  had  bene  an  hosteler,  verely  : 
I  sye  suche  a-nother  ientylman  wz't/z  yow  a  barowfull  bare 
Of  horsdowng  &  dogg^J  tord<?j  &  sych  other  gere.  98 

And  how  yt  happenyd,  a  marvelous  chance  be-tyde  : 

Yowr  felow  was  not  suer  of  foote,  &  yet  he  went  very 
brode,1 

But  in  a  cow-tord  both  dyd  ye  slyde, 

And,  as  I  wene,  yo«r  nose  ther-\n  rode, — 
Yo»r  face  was  be-payntyd  wz'tA  sowters  code. 

I  sey  neuer  sych  a  sy^t,  I  make  God  a-vow  ; 

Ye  were  so  be-grymlyd  &  yt  had  bene  a  sowe.  105 

STAB.    -In  fayth,  thovi  neuer  syest  me  tyll  Mis  day  ! 

I  haue  dwellyd  w/'t^  my  master  thys  vij  ^ere  &  more  ; 
ffull  well  I  haue  pleasyd  hym,  he  wyll  not  say  nay, 

And  mykyll  he  makyth  of  me  therfore. 

SERUtAS.     By  my  trowth,  Man  be  ye  changyd  to  a  new 

lore? 

A  s^ruand  ye  are,  &  thai  a  good, 
Ther  ys  no  better  lokyth  owt  of  a  hood.  112 

STAB,     ffor  soth,  &  a  hood  I  vse  for  to  were, 

ffull  well  yt  ys  lynyd  \viih  sylk  &  chamlett ; 
Yt  kepyth  me  fro  the  cold,  thai  the  wynd  doth  me  not  dere, 

Nowther  frost  nor  snow  thai  I  therby  do  sett. 

SERUCA?.     Yea,  yt  ys  a  dobyll  hood  &  thai  a  fett ! 
He  was  a  good  man  thai  made  yt,  I  warant  yow  ; 
He  was  noth^r  horse  ne  mare,2  nor  yet  yokyd  sow  !  119 

Here  commyth  \hejyrst  knyth  to  th^  stabyl-grom,  sayng'. 

I.  MILES.     Now,  stabyll-grom,  shortly  bryng  forth  away 
The  best  horse,  for  ow«r  lorde  wyll  ryde  ! 

1  Substituted  in  MS.  for  wyde. 

2  MS.  nare;  corr.  by  F. 


22O  DIGBY    PLAYS. 

STAB.     I  am  full  redy  ;  here  ys  a  palfray, 

There  can  no  man  a  better  bestryde  ; 

He  wyll  cowducte  owwr  lorde  &  gyde 
Thorow  the  world ;  he  ys  sure  &  abyll ; 
To  bere  a  gentyllman  he  [is]  l  esy  &  pr^phetabyll.  i 26 

Her  th*  knyth  cummyth  to  Saule  roirfi  a  horse. 

i.  MILES.     Behold,  sir  Saule,  your  palfray  ys  com, 

Full  goodly  besene,  as  yt  ys  yowr  desyer, 
To  take  yowar  vyage  thorow  euery  regyon. 

Be  nott  in  dowt,  he  wyll  spede  yo«r  mater  ; 

And  we,  as  yo«r  seruauntes,  with  glad  chere 
Shall  gyf  attendance,  —  we  wyll  nott  gaynsay, 
But  folow  you  where  ye  go  be  ny^t  or  day.  133 

SAULUS.     Vnto  Damask  I  make  my  pr^gressyon, 

To  pz/rsue  all  rebellyous,  beyng  froward  &  obstynate, 

Agayns  our  lawes  be  ony  transgressyon. 

Wz't^  all  my  delygens  my-self  I  wyll  prvparate  2 
Co«cernyng  my  purpose  to  oppres  &  separate  ; 

Non  shall  reioyce  that  doth  offend, 

But  vtterly  to  repr^ue  with  mynde  &  intende.  140 

Her  Sale  rydyth  forth  with  hys  seruantes  a-bmut  th^  place,  [&>] l  owt  of 
the  Jface].1 

CAYPHA.     Now  Saule  hath  takyn  hys  worthy  wyage 
To  pursue  rebellyous,  of  what  degre  Mei  be  ; 

He  wyll  non  suffer  to  raygne  nor  haue  passage 
Wz't^-in  all  thys  regyon,  we  be  in  sertayn[te]. 
Wherefor  I  cowmende  hys  goodly  dygnyte, 

That  he  thus  aluay  takyth  in  hande 

By  hys  power  to  gou^rne  thus  all  thys  lande.  147 

ANNA.     We  may  lyue  in  rest  by  hys  consolaczbn  ; 

He  defendyth  vs  ;  where-for  we  be  bownde 
To  loue  hym  intyrely  w/t^  our  hartte-r  affecc/on, 

And  honour  hym  as  champyon  in  euery  stownde. 

1  Supplied  by  F.  2  F.  pr<fpare. 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.  PAUL.  221 

Ther  ys  non  suche  lyuyng  vpon  the.  grownde 
That  may  be  lyke 1  hym  nor  be  hys  pere, 
Be  est  nor  west,  ferre  nor  nere.  1 54 

POET  A  (si  placet). 

COA^CLUSYON. 

Daimce.* 

[POETA.]  ffynally,  of  this  stac[/]on  thus  we  mak  a  conclusyon, 
Besechyng  thys  audyens  to  folow  &  succede, 

WYt^  all  your  delygens,  Mis  gen^rall  pr^cessyon. 
To  vnderstande  Mis  matter,  wo  lyst  to  rede 
The  Holy  Bybyll  for  Me  better  spede, 

Ther  shall  he  haue  Me  p^rfyth  intellygens. 

And  Mus  we  comyt  yow  to  Crystys  magnyfycens.  161 

ffinis  istius  stacitmis  et  altera  sequitur, 

{Second  Station.^ 

[PROLOGUE.] 

POETA.     Honorable  frend^r,  we  beseche  yow  of  audyens 
To  here  o«r  intenc/on  &  also  o»r  presses. 

Vpon  o«r  matter,  be  yo«r  fauorable  lycens, 
A-nother  part  of  Me  story  we  wyll  redres  : 
Here  shalbe  brefly  shewyd  w/t^  all  o//r  besynes, 

At  thys  pagent,  Saynt  Poullys  co«uercyon. 

Take  ye  good  hede  &  ther-to  gyf  affecc/on.         [Exit.}  168 

Here  coramyth  Saule  rydyng  in,  •with  hys  serumtes. 

SAUL*/.?.     My  purpose  to  Damask  fully  I  intende  ; 

To  pursewe  the  dyscypulys  my  lyfe  I  apply, 
ffor  to  breke  down  the  chyrchys  thus  I  co«descende, 

Non  I  wyll  suffer  that  [they]  3  shall  edyfey  ; 

1  A  late  hand  has  added  to  above  the  line. 

2  In  later  hand. 
8  Supplied  by  F. 


222  DIGBY    PLAYS. 

P<?rchaunce  owur  lawes  than  my^te  [peyre]  1  ther-by, 
And  the  pepull  also  turne  &  cowuerte, 
Whych  shuld  be  gret  heuynes  vnto  my«  hart.  175 

Nay,  thai  shall  nott  be  butt  layd  a-part  ! 

Th&  prynces  haue  gouyn  me  full  potestac/bn. 

All  that  I  fynd,  th€\  shall  nott  start, 

But  bounde,  to  Jerusalem,  wz't/z  furyous  vyolac/on, 
Be-for  Cesar,  Caypha  &  Annas  [haue]  pr^sentac/on. 

Thus  shalbe  subduyd  tho  wretchys  of  thai  lyfe, 

That  non  shall  in-ioy,  nother  man,  chy[l]de  nor  wyfe.  182 

Here  commyth  a  feruent  \_flame\  •until  gret  tempest,  and  Saule  faulyth 
down  of  hys  horse  ;  tha/  done,  Godhed  spekyth  in  heuyn. 


Saule  !  Saule  !  why  dost  thou  me  pursue  ? 

Yt  ys  hard  to  pryke  a-gayns  Me  spore  ! 
I  am  th\  Savyowr,  thai  ys  so  tnve, 

Whych  made  heuyn  &  erth  &  eche  creature. 

Offende  nott  my  goodnes  ;  I  wyll  tht  recure  ! 
SAULUS.     O  Lorde,  I  am  a-ferd,  I  trymble  for  fere. 
What  woldyst  I  ded  ?  Tell  me  here  !  189 

DEUS.     A-ryse  &  goo  thovi  wyth  glad  chere 

In-to  the  cyte  a  lytyll  be-syde, 
And  I  shall  the  socor  in  euery  dere, 

That  no  maner  of  yll  xal  be-tyde  ;  * 

And  I  wyll  ther  for  the  pr^uyde 
By  my  grete  goodnes  what  tho\\.  shalt  doo. 
Hy  the.  as  fast  theth^r  as  thou  mast  goo.  196 

SAULt/51.     O  mercyfull  God,  what  aylyth  me? 

I  am  lame,  my  legg<?J  be  take  me  fro  ; 
My  sygth  lykwyse,  —  I  may  nott  see  ; 

I  can  nott  tell  whether  to  goo. 

My  men  hath  forsake  me  also. 
Whether  shall  I  wynde,  or  whether  shall  I  pas? 
Lord,  I  beseche  the,  helpe  me,  of  thy  grace.  203 

1  Supplied  by  Kittredge.  2  p.  xalbe-tyde. 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.  PAUL.  223 

I.  MILES. *     Syr,  we  be  here  to  help  the  in  th\  nede 

Wzt^  all  our  affyance  ;  we  wyll  not  seise.2 
SAULUS.     Than,  in  Damask,  I  pray  yow,  me  lede, 

I'  3  God^-y  name,  accordyng  to  my  pr^myse. 

II.  MILES.     To  put  forth  yowz*r  hand  loke  ye  dresse  ! 
Cuw  on  yowr  way  ;  we  shall  yow  bryng 
In-to  the.  cyte  wzt/i-owt  taryng.  210 

Here  the   knyghtes   lede  forth  Sale  in  to  a  place,   &*   Cryst  apperyth   to 
A  nnanie,  sayng : 

DEUS.     Ananie  !  Ananie  !  where  art  //z<?u,  Ananie  ? 

ANAN.4     Here,  Lord,  I  am  here,  trwly  !  212 

DEUS.     Go  thy  way  &  make  th\  curse, 

As  I  shall  assyng  Me  by  myn  aduysse, 
Into  Me  strete  qui  dicitur  rectus, 

And  in  a  certayn  house,  of  warantyse, 

Ther  shall  ye  fynd  Saule  in  humble  vyse, 
As  a  meke  lamb,  that  a  wolf  before  was  namyd. 
Do  my  behest ;  be  nothyng  a-shamyd  !  219 

He  wantyth  hys  syth,  by  my  punyshment  co;zstrayned. 
Prayeng  vnto  me,  I  assure,  ///ou  shalt  hym  fynd. 

Wzt^  my  stroke  of  pyte  sore  ys  he  paynyde, 

Wantyng  hys  sygth,  for  he  ys  truly  blynyde, 
ANAN.     Lord,  I  am  aferd,  for  aluay  i«  my  mynd 

I  here  so  myche  of  hys  iuryous  cruelte, 

TAat,  for  spekyng  of  th\  name,  to  deth  he  wyll  put  me.  226 

DEUS.     Nay,  Ananie ;  nay,  I  assure  tht  ! 

He  wulbe  glad  of  thy  cu/#myng. 
ANAN.     A  !  Lord,  but  I  know  of  a  certayn[te] 

That  thy  seyntev  in  Jerusalem  to  deth  he  doth  bryng. 

Many  yllys  of  hym  I  haue  be  kennyng, 

1  F.  ]us  miles ;  so  below. 

2  MS.  apparently  serse;  corr.  by  F. 

8  But  the  stroke  for  n  may  have  been  omitted. 
4  F.  Ananias,  here  and  below. 


224  DIG-BY    PLAYS. 

ffor  he  hath  the  pour  of  the  princes  alle 

To  saue  or  spylle,  —  do  which  he  schall.  233 

DEUS.     Be  nothyng  a-drad,  he  ys  a  chosen  wessell, 

To  me  assyngned  by  my  godly  elecczbn. 
He  shall  here  my  name  be-fore  the  kyng^y  &  chyld^r  of  Israeli, 

By  many  sharpe  shour^j  sufferyng  correcczbn, 

A  gret  doctor,  of  benyngne  conplecczbn, 
The  trwe  precher  of  the  hye  deuynete, 
A  very  pynacle  of  Me  fayth,  I  ensure  the.  240 

ANAN.     Lorde,  thy  co/«mandme«t  I  shall  fullfyll ; 

Vn-to  Saule  I  wyll  take  my  waye. 
DEUS.     Be  nothyng  i«  dowte  for  good  nor  yll  ! 

Fare-well,  Ananie  ;  tell  Saule  what  I  do  say. 

Et  exiat  Deus. 

ANAN.     Blyssyd  Lord,  defende  me,  as  thou.  best  may  ! 
Gretly  I  fere  hys  cruell  tyra«ny  ; 
But  to  do  th\  precept  my-self  I  shall  applye.  247 

Here  A  nanias  goth  toward  Saule. 

I.  MILES.     I  maruayle  gretly  what  yt  doth  mene, 

To  se  ow«r  master  in  thys  hard  stounde. 
The  wonder  grett  lythtys  thai  were  so  shene 

Smett  hym  doune  of  hys  hors  to  the  grownde  ; 

And  me  thowt  that  I  hard  a  sounde 
Of  won  spekyng  w/tA  voyce  delectable, 
Whych  was  to  [vs]  wonderfull  myrable.  254 

II.  MILES.     Sertenly  thys  ly}t  was  ferefull  to  see, 

The  sperkys  of  fyer  were  very  ferue«t ; 
Yt  inflamyd  so  greuosely  about  Me  cou«tre 

That,  by  my  trowth,  I  went  we  shuld  a  ben  bre«t. 

But  now,  serys,  lett  vs  relente 
Agayne  to  Caypha  &  Anna,  to  tell  Mis  chau«ce 
How  yt  be-fell  to  vs  thys  greuau«s.  261 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.  PAUL.  225 

Her  Saule ys  in  contemplation.1 

SAULCSS.     Lord,  of  Mi  cou«fort  moch  I  desyre, 

ThoM  my^ty  Prince  of  Israeli,  Kyng  of  pyte, 
Whyche  me  hast  punyshyd  as  Mi  presoner 

That  nother  etc  nor  dranke  thys  dayes  thre  ; 

But,  gracyos  Lorde,  of  Mi  vysytacyon  I  thanke  the  ; 
Thy  s^ruant  shall  I  be  as  long  as  I  haue  breth, 
Thowgh  I  therfor  shuld  suffer  dethe.  268 

Here  commytk  Anania  to  Saule,  sayeng: 

ANAN.     Pease  be  in  thys  place  &  goodly  mansyon  ! 

Who  ys  w/t/j-in  ?     Speke,  in  Crystys  holy  name  ! 
SA[u]Lf/.y.2    I  am  here,  Saule.    Cum  in,  on  Goddes  benyson  ! 

What  ys  your  wyll  ?     Tell,  wzt^-owten  blame. 

ANAN.     ffrom  Almyghty  God,  s^rtanly,  to  the  sent  I  am, 
And  Ananie  men  call  me  wher-as  I  dwell. 
SAUL&T.S.     What  wold  ye  haue?     I  pray  yow  me  tell.  275 

ANAN.     Gyfe  me  yowr  hand  for  yo«r  awayle  ! 

For,  as  I  was  covzmauwdyd,  by  hys  gr<zcyos  sentens 

I  byd  8  the  be  stedfast,  for  M0u  shalt  be  hayle. 

ffor  thys  same  cause  he  sent  me  to  th\  presens  ;  , 
Also  he  bad  the  remember  hys  hye  excellens, 

Be  Me  same  tokyn  that  he  dyd  Me  mete 

Toward  Me  cyte,  when  he  apperyd  in  Me  strete.  282 

Ther  mayst  M0u  know  hys  power  celestyall, 

How  he  dysposyth  euery-thyng  as  hym  lyst ; 
No-thyng  may  wzt^stand  hys  my^te  essencyall. 

To  stond  vp-ryght,  or  els  doun  to  thryste, 

Thys  ys  hys  powwr,  yt  may  not  be  myste, 
ffor  who  thai  yt  wantyth,  lackyth  a  frende. 
Thys  ys  Me  massage  thai  he  doth  Me  sende.  289 

SAULUS.     Hys  marcy  to  me  ys  ryght  welcom  ; 
I  am  ryght  glad  thai  yt  ys  thus. 

1  MS.  comtemplac/on ;  corr.  by  F.  2  Corr.  by  F.  *  F.  &  bad. 


226  DIGBY    PLAYS. 

Hie  aparebit  Spvf&us  Sanrtus  super  eian  [in  the  form  of  a  dove}. 

ANAN.     Be  of  good  chere  &  p^rfyte  iubylaczon, 

Discendet  super  te  Spirytus  Sanctus, 

Whych  hath  wz't/z  hys 1  grace  illumynyd  vs. 
Put  fo[r]th  2  th\  hond  &  goo  wyth  me  ; 
A-gayne  to  thy  syght  here  I  restore  the.  296 

SAULUS.     Blyssyd  Lord,  thankys  to  yow  euer  be ! 

The  swame  ys  fallyn  from  my  eyes  twayne  ; 
Where  I  was  blynyd  &  cowd  nott  see, 

Lord,  thoM  hast  sent  me  my  syght  agayne. 

ffrom  sobbyng  &  wepyng  I  can  not  refrayne 
My  pensyue  hart,  full  of  cowtrycczon  ; 
ffor  my  offence  my  body  shal  haue  punycyon  ;  303 

And,  where  I  haue  vsed  so  gret  p^rsecucyon 

Of  th\  descyplys  thorow  all  Jerusalem, 
I  wyll  [aid]2  &  defende  ther  pr^dycacyon 

That  th[e]y  2  dyd  tech  on  all  zVHs  reme  : 

Wherefor,  Ananie,  at  the  watery  streme 
Baptyse  me,  hartely  I  th&  praye, 
A-mong  your  nu;«byr  that  I  electe  &  chosen  be  may.  310 

ANAN.     On-to  this  well  of  mych  vertu 

We  wyll  vs  hye  wz't^  all  our  delygens. 
SAUL*/.?.     Go  yow  be-fore,  &  after  I  shall  sewe, 

Laudyng  &  praysyng  our  Lord^-r  benevolens. 

I  shall  neuer  offend  hys  my^ty  magnyfycens, 
But  aluay  obserue  hys  preceptys  &  kepe. 
ffor  my  gret  vnkyndnes  my  hart  doth  wepe.  317 

ANAN.     Knele  ye  down  vpon  thys  grownde, 

Receyuyng  thys  crystenyng  wzt^  good  intent, 

Whyche  shall  make  yow  hole  of  yo«r  dedly  wou«d, 
That  was  infecte  wz't^  venom  nocent. 

1  MS.  hys  hys;  corr.  by  F. 

2  Corr.  by  F. 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.   PAUL.  22/ 

Yt  purgyth  synne  ;  and  iendes  pourv?1  so  fraudelent 
It  putyth  a-syde,  —  where  thys  doth  at-tayne, 
In  euery  stede,  he  may  not  obtayne.  324 

I  crysten  yow  vtiih  mynd  full  p^rfyght, 

Reseyuyng  yow  in-to  owur  relygyon, 
Euer  to  be  stedfast  &  neuer  to  flyt, 

But  euer  constant  wzt^-owt  varyacyon. 

Now  ys  fullfyllyd  all  our  obseruacyon  ; 
Concludyng,  thou.  mayst  yt  ken, 
In  nomine  Patris  et  Filii  et  Sforitus  Sa.ncti,  Amen  !  331 

SAULUS.     I  am  ryght  glad  as  foule  on  flyte 

That  I  haue  receyuyd  Mis  blyssyd  sacreme«t. 

ANAN.     Com  on  yo«r  way,  Saule  ;  for  nothyng  lett ! 

Take  yow  sum  coum  forth  for  yowr  bodyes  noryschme«t. 
Ye  shall  abyde  wz't^  the  dyscyplys,  verament, 

Thys  many  dayes  in  Damask  cyte, 

Vn-tyll  the  tyme  more  p^rfyt  ye  may  be.  338 

SAULUS.     As  ye  cowmande,  holy  father  Ananie  ; 

I  full[y]  assent  at  yow[r]  2  request, 
To  be  gydyd  &  rulyd  as  ye  wyll  haue  me, 

Evyn  at  yo#r  pleasur,  as  ye  thynk  best. 

I  shall  not  offend  for  most  nor  lest. 
Go  forth  yovfur  way ;  I  wyll  succede 
In-to  what  place  ye  wyll  me  lede.  345 

COA^CLUSYO[N]. 

Daunce? 

POETA.     Thus  Saule  ys  co«uertyd,  as  ye  se  expres, 

The  very  trw  s<?ruant  of  our  Lord  lesu  ; 
Non  may  be  lyke  to  hys  pertyjt  holynes, 

So  nobyll  a  doctor,  constant  &  trwe  ; 

Aftyr  hys  co«u^rsyon  neu<?r  mutable,  but  styll  insue 

1  F.  poures.  2  Corr.  by  F. 

8  F.  has  no  note  as  to  the  hand. 


228  DIGBY    PLAYS. 

The  lawys  of  God  to  teche  euer  more  £  more, 

As  Holy  Scryptur  tellyth,1  who-so  lyst  to  loke  ther-iorz.  352 

Thus  we  comyte  yow  all  to  the  Trynyte, 

Conkludyng  thys  staczon  as  we  can  or  may, 
Vnder  the  correccyon  of  them  thai  letteryd  be  ; 

How-be-yt  vnable,  as  I  dare  speke  or  say, 

The  cowpyler  here-of  shuld  translat  veray 
So  holy  a  story,  but  wz't^  fauorable  correccyon 
Of  my  fauorable  2  masters  of  the*  benygns  supplexion.  359 

ffinis  istius  secun<£  stacio-ais  et  seqititur  tarcia. 


[Third  Station.]* 
[PROLOGUE.] 

POETA.     The  myght  of  the  Fadir<?j  potenciall  deite 

Preserue  thys  honorable  &  wurshypfull  cowgregaczon 

That  here  be  present  of  hye  &  low  degre, 

To  vnderstond  thys  pagent  at  thys  lytyll  stac/on, 
Whych  we  shall  precede  wz't^  all  o«r  delectac[i]on,4 

Yf  yt  wyll  plese  yow  to  gyf  audyens  fauorable. 

Hark  wysely  ther-to  ;  yt  ys  good  &  pr^fetable.          [Exit.]         366 

{Cay j >ha  and  Anna,  to  whom  enter  the  knights.} 

I.  MILES.     Nobyll  pr^later,  take  hede  to  owwr  sentens  ! 

A  wundyrfull  chau«ce  fyll  &  dyd  be-tyde 
Vn-to  owr  master,  Saull,  when  he  departyd  hens, 

In-to  Damaske  p«rposyd  to  ryde  : 

A  m^ruelous  ly^t  fro  thelemewt  dyd  glyde, 
Whyche  smet  doun  5  hym  to  grunde,  both  horse  &  man, 

the  ferfulest  wether  tha\.  euer  I  in  cam.  373 

1  F.  tellyd.  4  Corr.  by  F. 

2  Qy.  honorable.  6  MS.  doum ;  corr.  by  F. 
8  Supplied  by  F. 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.  PAUL.  22Q 

II.  MILES.     It  rauysshid  hym  and  hys  spirits  did  be-nome  ; 

A  swete,  dulcet  voyce  spake  hym  vnto 
And  askyd  wherfor  he  made  suche  p^rsecucyon 

A-geynst  hys  dyscyplys  &  why  he  dyd  soo. 

He  bad  hym  in-to  Damaske  to  Ananie  goo, 
And  ther  he  shuld  reseyue  baptym,  truly.1 
And  now  clene  a-geyns  ow«r  lawys  he  ys  trwly.  380 

CAYPHA.     I  am  sure  thys  tale  ys  not  trw  ! 

What !  Saule  conuertyd  from  our  law? 
He  went  to  Damask  for  to  pursue 

All  the  dyscyplys  that  dyd  w/t^-draw 

Fro  ow«r  fayth,  —  thys  was  hys  sawe. 
How  say  ye,  Anna,  to   thys  mater?     This  ys  a  mervelos 

chans ; 
I  can  not  beleve  that  thys  ys  of  assurans.  387 

ANNA.     No,  Caypha  ;  my  mynde  trwly  do  [I]  z  tell  : 

That  he  wyll  not  turne  in  no  maner  wyse, 
But  rather  to  deth  put  &  expell 

All  myscreaunfcsy  &  wretchys  thai  doth  aryse 

Agaynst  o«r  lawes  by  ony  enterpryse. 
Say  the  trwth  wz't^-[owt]  2  ony  cause  frawdelent, 
Or  els  for  yo«r  talys  ye  be  lyke  to  be  shent  !  394 

I.  MILES.  8     Ellys  ow«r  bodyes  may  [ye]  put  to  payn  ! 
All  that  we  declare  I  sye  yt  w/t£  my  nye  ; 
Nothyng  offendyng,  but  trwly  do  iustyfye.  397 

CAYPHAS.     By  the  gret  God,  I  do  maruayle  gretly  ! 

And  thys  be  trw  that  ye  do  reherse, 
He  shall  repent  hys  rebellyous  treytory, 

That  all  shalbe  ware  of  hys  falsnes. 

We  wyll  not  suffer  hym  to  obtayne  dowtles, 
ffor  meny  p^rellys  that  myght  be-tyde 
By  hys  subtyll  meanys  on  euery  syde.  404 

l  Qy.  duly.  2  Supplied  by  F. 

8  Apparently  four  lines  are  missing  here. 


23O  DIGBY    PLAYS. 

ANNA.     The  law  ys  cowmyttyd  to  ow«r  aduysme«t ; 

Wherfor  we  wyll  not  se  yt  decay,  — 
But  rather  vphold  yt,  help  &  a«gme#t, — 

That  ony  reprofe  to  vs  fall  may 

Of  Cesar,  themprour,  by  ny$t  or  day. 
We  shall  to  such  matters  harke  &  attende, 
Accordyng  to  the  lawes  our  wyttes  to  spende.  41 1 

1  Here  to  enter  a  dyvel*  wz'tA  thunder  df  fyre,  &•>  to  avatmte  8  hym-sylfe, 
,      saying  asfolmvyth  ;  &>,  hys  speck  spokyn,  to  syt  downe  in  a  chayre. 

BELYALL.     Ho  !  ho  !  beholde  me,  the  my^te  prince  of  the 
paries  in-fernall  ! 

Next  vnto  Lucyfer  I  am  in  magestye  ; 
By  name  I  am  nominate  the  god  Belyall  ; 

Now  of  more  my^te  nor  of  more  excellencye ! 

My  powre  ys  princypall  &  now  of  most  soferaynte. 
In  the  temple  &  synogog^J  who  deneyth  me  to  honore, 
My  busshop^j  thorow  my  motyon  the\  wyl  \\jrn  sone  devoure.  418 

I  have  movyd  my  prelates,  Cayphas  &  A«na, 

To  persevf  &  put  downe  by  powre  ryall, 
Thorow  tht  sytyes  of  Damask  &  Liba, 

All  soch  as  do  worship  //ze  hye  God  sup^rnall. 

Ther  deth  ys  co«spyryd  w/t^-owt  any  fauoure  at  all  ; 
My  busshopys  hathe  chosyne  won  most  rygorus 
Them  to  p^rsew,  howse  name  ys  Saulus.  425 

Ho  !  thus  as  a  god,  most  hye  in  magestye, 

I  rayne  &  I  rule  ou<?r  creature  humayne. 
W/t^  sou^rayne  sewte  sow^te  to  ys  my  deyte  ; 

Mans  mynd  ys  applicant  as  I  lyst  to  ordeyne. 

My  law  styll  encreasyth  ;  wherof  I  am  fayne; 
Yet  of  late  I  haue  hard  of  no  newys  truly, 
Wherfor  I  long  tyll  I  speke  \viih  my  messe«g^r  Mi?rcurye.       432 

1  From  here  through  the  stage  direction  following  1.  502  is  by  a  later 
hand,  written  on  three  separate  inserted  leaves. 

2  In  margin :  Diabolus.  8  F.  avauwce. 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.  PAUL.  23! 

Here  shall  entere  a-  wither  devyll,  colly d  Mercury,  •unt'h  ajyeryng,  cam- 
myng  in  hast,  cryeng  S°  roryng,  £r>  shal  say  asfolowyth  : 

1VL4/?CURY.     Ho  !  ow3t  !  ow^t  !  alas  thys  sodayne  chance  ! 

Well  may  we  bewayle  tMs  cursyd  adu^wture  ! 
BELYAL.  Marcurye,  what  aylys*  tho\i  ?  Tell  me  thy  grevaimce  ! 

Ys  ther  any  that  hath  wrowjte  vs  dyspleasure  ? 

M.ERC.     Dyspleasure  i-nowgh,  theroi  ye  may  be  sure  ! 
Our  law  at  lengthe  yt  wylbe  clene  downe  layd, 
For  yt  decayth  sore,  &  more  wyl,  I  am  a-frayd.  439 

BEL.     Ho  !  how  can  that  be  ?  Yt  ys  not  possyble  ! 

Co[»]syder,1  tho\i  foole,  the  long  co«tynuance. 
Decaye,  q«0d  a?  Yt  ys  not  credyble  ! 

Of  fals  tydyng^y  tho\i  makyst  here  vtterance. 

Behold  how  the  peple  hath  no  pleasau#ce 
But  in  syn  &  to  folow  our  desyere, 
Pryde  &  voluptuosyte  ther  hartej  doth  so  fyre.  446 

Thow^e  on  do  swauer  away  from  our  lore, 

Yet  ys  our  powre  of  suche  nobylyte 
To  have  hym  a-gayne  &  twoo  th  erf  ore 

That  shal  pr^ferre  the.  prayse  of  owre  maiestye. 

What  ys  the  tydynges  ?  Tell  owt  !  Lett  vs  see  ! 
Why  arte  tho\a  amasyd  so  ?  Declare  afore  vs 
What  fury  ys  fallyn  that  troblyth  the.  thus  !  453 

MERCURY.     Ho  !  ow^t !  ow3te  !  He  that  I  most  trustyd  to 
And  he  that  I  thow^te  wold  haue  ben  to  vs  most  specyall 

Ys  now  of  late  turnyd  &  our  cruell  foo  ; 
Our  specyall  frynd,  our  chosen  Saull, 
Ys  be-cowme  s^ruante  to  the.  hye  God  etemall. 

As  he  dyd  ryde  on  our  enemyes  p^rsecutyon, 

He  was  sodenly  strykyn  by  the  hye  pr<?vysyon,  460 

And ^now  ys  baptysyd,  &  pranys  he  hath  made 

Neuifr  to  vary  ;  &  soch  grace  he  hath  opteynyd 
That  ondowtyd  hys  fayth  from  hym  can  not  fade. 

1  Corr.  by  F. 


232  DIGBY   PLAYS. 

Wherfor  to  co/wplayne  I  am  cowstraynyd, 

For  moch  by  hym  shuld  we  haue  pr<?vaylyd. 
BELYAL.     Ho  !  ow^t !  owjt !  What !  haue  we  loste 
Our  darlyng  most  dere  whom  we  lovyd  moste  ?  467 

But  ys  yt  of  trowth  thai  tho\\  doyst  here  specyfye  ? 

M^JfCURY.     Yt  ys  so,  ondow^tyd.     Why  shuld  I  fayne  ? 
For  thow3te  I  can  do  non  other  but  crye  ! 

Here  \hei  shal  rare  <5r>  crye,  &°  then  Belyal  shal  saye : 

BELYAL.     Ow^te  !    This  grevyth  vs   worse  Man  hell- 
payne  ! 

7%e  co»u£rsyon  of  [a]  synner,  certayne, 
Ys  more  payne  to  vs  &  p^rsecutyon 
Than  all  the.  furyes  of  tht  infernal!  dongyon.  474 

MERCURY.     Yt  doyth  not  avayl  vs  thus  to  lament, 
But  lett  vs  pr0vyd  for  remedy  shortlye. 

Wherfor  let  vs  both  by  on  assent 

Go  to  the  busshopys  &  moue  them  pryvelye 

Thai  by  some  sotyl  meane  th€\  may  cause  hym  to  dye. 

Than  shal  he  in  our  law  make  no  dysturbau«ce, 

Nor  here-after  cause  vs  to  haue  more  greuau«ce.  481 

BELYAL.     Wei  sayd,  M^rcurye  !  Thy  cowncel  ys  pr^fytable. 

Ho,  Saul  !  tho\\  shalt  repent  thy  vnstablenes  ! 
Thou  hadyst  ben  better  to  haue  byn  cowfyrmable 

To  our  law  ;  for  thy  *  deth,  dowtles, 

Yt  ys  co«spyryd  to  reward  thy  falsnes. 
Thowgh  on  hath  dyssayvyd  vs,  yet  now-a-days 
Twenti 2  doyth  gladly  folow  oure  layes  :  488 

Some  by  pryde,  some  thorowgh  envye, 

Ther  rayneth  thorow  my  myght  so  moch  dysobedyau«ce  ; 
Ther  was  neu^r  a-mong  crystyans  lesse  charyte 

Than  ys  at  this  howre  ;  &  as  for  cowcupysence, 

[He]  rayneth  as  a  lord  thorow  my  violence  ; 

l  F.  thys.  2  p.  xxti 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.  PAUL.  233 

Glotony  &  wrath  euery  man  doth  devyse  ; 

And  most  now  ys  praysyd  my  cosyn  Covytyce.  495 

Cum,  Mercury,  let  vs  go  &  do  as  we  haue  sayd  ; 

To  delate  yt  any  lenger  yt  ys  not  best. 
M£/?CURY.     To  bryng  yt  a-bowjt  I  wold  be  wel  apajd  ; 

Tell  yt  be  done  let  vs  not  rest. 

i 

BELYAL.     Go  we  than  shortly  !  Let  vs  departe 

Hys  deth  to  devyse,  syth  he  wyl  not  revart.  502 

Here  thei  shal  vanyshe  away  •with  afyrye  flame  &*  a  tempest? 
8  Her  apperyth  Saule  in  a  4  disciplis  ivede,  sayng  : 

SAULUS.  5     That  Lord  that  ys  shaper  of  see  &  of  sond 

And  hath  wrowth  w/t/t  hys  woord  all  thyng  at  hys  wyll, 

Saue  thys  semely  6  thai  here  syttyth  or  stonde, 
ffor  his  meke  marcy,  thai  we  do  not  spyll  ! 
Grant  me,  good  Lord,  thy  pleasur  to  fulfyll, 

And  send  me  suche  speche  that  I  the.  trwth  say, 

My  entenczons  proph[i]table7  to  meve  yf  I  may.  509 

Welbelouyd  frend^j,  ther  be  vij  mortall  synnes, 

Whych  be  provyd  pryncypall  &  prince  of  poysonnes  : 

Pride,  thai  of  bytternes  all  bale  begynnes,  — 

Wzt/z-holdyng  all  fayth,  yt  fedyth  &  foysonnes, 
As  Holy  Scryptur  beryth  playn  wyttnesse  : 

Inicium  omnium  peccatorum  supzrbya  8  est, 

That  often  dystroyeth  both  most  &  lest.9  .  516 

1  Indicated  by  F. 

2  Here  ends  the  insertion  by  the  late  hand. 

*From  here  through  \.  516  was  originally  written  immediately  after 
1.  411,  but  was  crossed  out  there  and  repeated  here  by  the  late  hand.  Both 
stanzas  are  rejected  by  S.  In  the  footnotes  L.  indicates  the  reading  of  the 
later  copy. 

4  L.  hys.  7  Corr.  by  F. 

6  Om.  by  L.  8  L.  subia. 

«  L.  asembly.  9  L.  man  &  best 


234  DIGBY    PLAYS. 

Off  all  vyces  &  foly  pride  ys  the  roote. 

Humylyte  may  not  rayn  ner  yet  indure  ; 
Pyte,  alak,  that  ys  flower  &  boot, 

Ys  exylyd  wher  pride  hath  socour. 

Omms  qtii  se  exaltat  humiliabituf  : 
Good  Lord,  gyf  vs  grace  to  vnderstond  &  p^rseuer, 
Thys  wurd  as  thoM  bydyst  to  fulfyll  euer,  —  52*3 

Who-so  in  pride  beryth  hym  to  hye, 

WYt//  mys[c]heff T  shalbe  mekyd,  as  I  mak  mensyon  ; 
And  I  therfor  assent  &  fully  certyfy 

In  text,  as  I  tell,  the  trw  entencyon 

Of  p^rfy^t  goodnes  &  very-locucyon  : 
Noli,  tibi  dico,  in  altum  sap&re,  sed  time,  — 
Thys  ys  my  consell,  —  bere  the  not  to  hye,  530 

But  drede  alway  synne  &  folye, 

Wrath,  enuy,  couytys,  and  slugyshnes  ; 
Exeu#t  owt  of  thy  sy^t  glotony  &  lechery, 

Vanytye  &  vayneglory  and  fals  idylnes. 

Thes  be  the  branchys  of  all  wyckydnes  ; 
Who  tha\.  in  hym  thes  vyces  do  roote, 
He  lackyth  all  grace  &  bale  ys  Me  boote.  537 

"  Lern  at  my-self,  for  I  am  meke  in  hart," 

Owr  Lorde  to  hys  s^ruanter  thus  he  sayth, 
"  ffor  meknes  I  sufferyd  a  spere  at  my  hart ; 

Meknes  all  vyces  anullyth  &  delayeth, 

Rest  to  soulys  [ye]  shall  fynd  yt,2  in  fayth  : 
Discite  a  me,  quia  mitis  sum,  et  corde  humilis ; 
Et  inveniefa  requiem  animabus  vestris."  544 

So  owwr  Sauyowr  shewyth  vs  example  8  of  meknes, 

Thorow  grace  of  hys  godnes  mekly  ys  4  groundys  ; 
Trwly  yt  wyll  vs  saue  fro  Me  synnes  sekenes, 

1  Corr.  by  F.  8  p.  exampls. 

2  F.  yt  shall  fynd.  *  Qy.  yt. 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.  PAUL.  235 

ffor  J  pryde  &  hys  progeny  mekenes  confoundys  : 
Quanta  maior  es,  tanto  humilia  te  in  omnibus,  — 

The  gretter  tho\i  art,  the  lower  loke  thu  be, 

Bere  the  neu^r  Me  hyer  for  tK\  degre.  551 

ifro  sensualyte  of  fleshe  thy-self  loke  tho\\  lede, 

Vnlefully  therin  vse  not  thy  lyfe  ; 
Whoso  therin  delyteth,  to  deth  he  must  nede  ; 

It  consumyth  natur,  the  body  sleyth  w/t^-owt  knyf  ; 

Also  yt  styntyth  nott  but  manslawt<?r  &  stryf  : 
Omnzs  fornicator   aut   tmmundus    nan   h-^oet  hereditatem 

Christ/,  — 
No«  shall  in  heuyn  posses  that  be  so  vnthryfty.-  558 

ffle  fornycac[i]on,  nor  be  no  letchour, 

But  spare  yo«r  speche  &  speke  nott  theron  : 

Ex  habundancia  cordis  os  loquitur  ; 

Who  movyth  yt  oft,  chastyte  louyth  non, 

Of  th&  hartey  habundans  the  tunge  makyth  locuc/bn, 

What  manys  mynde  ys  laboryd,  therof  yt  spekyth;  — 

That  ys  of  suernes,  as  Holy  Scryptur  tretyth.  565 

Wherfor  I  reherse  thys  wz't^  myn  owyn  mowthe  : 

Caste  viuentes  templum  Dei  sunt. 
Kepe  clene  your  body  from  synne  vncuth, 

Stabyll  yo«r  syghtej  &  look  ye  not  stunt, 

ffor  of  a  s^rtaynte  I  know,  at  a  brunt, 
Oculus  est  nuncius  peccati,  — 
That  the  iey  ys  euer  the  messenger  of  foly  572 

Enter  Seruus  sacerdotum. 


Whate  !     Ys  not  thys  Saule  thai  toke  hys  vyage 
In-to  lerusalem,2  the  dyscyplys  to  oppresse  ? 
Bounde  he  wold  bryng  them  yf  ony  dyd  rage 
Vpon  Cryst,  —  ^is  was  hys  processe 
To  the.  prince  of  pr<?stys,  he  sayde  dowtles,  — 

1  MS.  ffror;  corr.  by  F. 

2  F.  faints  out  that  this  is  a  mistake  for  Damascus,  but  see  Notes. 


236  DIGBY    PLAYS. 

Thorow  all  Damask  &  also  lerusalem 

Subdwe  all  templys  tha\.  he  founde  of  them.  579 

SA[U]LUS.!     Yes,  sertaynly,  Saule  ys  my  proper  name, 

That  had  in  powr  the  full  dominion  — 
To  hyde  yt  fro  you  yt  were  gret  shame 

And  mortall  synne,  as  in  my  opynyon,  — 

Vnder  Cesar  &  pristes  of  the  relygeon 
And  templys  of  lues,  that  be  very  hedyous, 
A-gayns  almyghty  Cryst,  thai  kyng  so  pr^cyous.  586 


To  Anna  &  Caypha  ye  must  make  yo«r  recurse  ; 
Com  2  on  yo«r  way,  &  make  no  delacz'on  ! 
SAULLTS.     I  wyll  yow  succede,  for  better  or  wors, 
To  the  prync^y  of  pristes  -with  all  del.ectaczbn. 

[They  go  to  Anna  and  Caypha..} 


Holy  pristes  of  hye  potestacz'on, 
Here  ys  Saule  !     Lok  on  hym  wysely  ; 
He  ys  a-nother  man  than  he  was,  verely.  593 

SAULUS.     I  am  Me  smaant  of  Ihesu  Almyghty, 

Creator  &  maker  of  see  &  sonnd, 
Whiche  ys  kyng  conctypotent  of  heuyn  glory, 

Chef  cowfort  &  solas  both  to  fre  &  bonde, 

A-gayns  whos  power  nothyng  may  stonde  ; 
Emperowr  he  ys  both  of  heuyn  &  hell, 
Whoys  goodnes  &  grace  al  thyng  doth  excell.  600 

Recedit  paulisp&e. 

CAYPHA.     Vn-to  my  hart  thys  ys  gret  admyraczbn, 

That  Saule  ys  thus  m<?rvelously  changyd  ; 
I  trow  he  ys  bewytchyd  by  sum  co/ziuraczbn, 

Or  els  the  devyll  on  hym  ys  auengyd. 

Alas  !  to  my  hart  yt  ys  dessendyd 
That  he  ys  thus  takyn  fro  o«r  relygyon  ! 
How  say  ye,  Anna,  to  thys  co«uercyon  ?  607 

1  Corr.  by  F,  2  MS.  Con  ;  corr.  by  F. 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.  PAUL.  237 

ANNA,     ffull  nwvelously,  as  in  my  cowcepc/on, 

Thys  wnderfull  case  how  yt  be-fell, 
To  se  thys  chaunce  so  sodenly  don, 

Vn-to  my  hart  yt  doth  grete  yll. 

But  for  hys  falsnes  we  shall  hym  spyll  ; 
By  myn  assent  to  deth  we  wyll  hym  bryng, 
Lest  thai  more  myschef  of  hym  may  spryng.  614 

CAYPHA.     Ye  say  very  trew,  we  myjt  yt  all  rewe  ! 

But  shortly  in  thys  we  must  haue  aduysemewt, 
ffor  thus  a-gayns  vs  he  may  nott  co«tynew,  — 

P^rauentur  than  of  Cesar  we  may  be  shent. 

ANNA.     Nay,  I  had  leuer  in  fyer  he  were  brent 
Than  of  Cesar  we  shuld  haue  dysp[l]easure1 
ffor  sych  a  rebell  and  subtyle  fals  treator.  621 

CAYPHA.     We  wyll  command  the  gates  to  be  kept  aboute 

And  the  wall^j  suerly  on  euery  stede, 
That  he  may  not  eskape  no-where  ow3te  ; 

For  dye  he  shall,  I  ensuer  yow  indede. 

ANNA.     Thys  traytoar  rebellyous,  evyll  mut  he  spede, 
That  doth  this  vnhappynes  a-gayns  all  ! 
Now  euery  costodyer  kepe  well  hys  wall  !  628 


The  gatys  be  shytt,  he  can  not  eskape  ;2 

Eu^ry  place  ys  kepte  well  &  sure, 
That  in  no  wyse  he  may,  tyll  he  be  take, 

Gett  owt  of  the.  cyte,  by  ony  cowiecture. 

Vpon  that  caytyf  &  fals  trayto«r 
Loke  ye  be  auengyd  vitih  deth  mortall, 
Attdiudge  hym  as  ye  lyst  to  what  end  he  shall.  635 

[  They  go  out  ;  an  angel  appears  to  Saulus.] 

ANGELUS.     Holy  Saule,  I  gyf  yow  monycyon, 

The  princes  of  lues  entende,  s^rtayn, 
To  put  yow  to  deth,  but  by  Goddes  pr^vysyon 

l  Corr.  by  F.  2  F.  note  skape, 


238  DIGBY    PLAYS. 

He  wyll  ye  shall  lyue  lenger,  and  optayn, 

And  after  thy  deth  tho\\.  shalt  rayng 
Above  in  heuyn,  wz'tfc  owr  Lord^r  grace. 
Co#uay  yowr-self  shortly  in-to  a-nother  place.  642 

SAULUS.     That  Lordes  pleasur  euer  mut  be  down 
Both  in  heuyn  &  in  hell,  as  hys  wyll  ys  ! 

In  a  beryng-baskett  or  a  lepe,  a-non 

I  shall  me  co[«]uay l  wtt/t  help  ol  the  dyscyplys, 
For  euery  gate  ys  shett  &  kept  wz't^  multytud  of  pe- 
pull[ys]  ; 

But  I  trust  in  owr  Lord,  that  ys  my  soco«r, 

To  resyst  ther  malyce  &  cruell  furo«r.  649 


COM:LUSYO[N]. 
[EPILOGUE.]  * 

POETA.     Thus  leve  we  Saule  wzt^-in  Me  cyte, 

The  gates  kep  by  cowmandmewt  of  Caypha  &  Anna  ; 

But  the  dyscyplys  in  the  ny^t  ouer  the  wall,  truly, 

As  the  Bybull  sayeth  :  dim\f]seruntleumsummittentes* 

in  sporta; 
And  Saule  after  that,  in  lerusalem,  vera, 

loyned  hym-self  &  ther  accompenyed 

Wz't/j  Me  dyscyplys,  wher  Mei  were  vnfayned.  656 

Thys  lytyll  pagent  thus  co«clud  we 

As  we  can,  lackyng  lytturall  scyens  ; 
Besechyng  yow  all,  of  hye  &  low  degre, 

Owr  sympylnes  to  hold  excusyd  &  lycens, 

That  of  Retoryk  haue  no«  intellygens  ; 
Co/«myttyng  yow  all  to  owr  Lord  Ihesus, 
To  whoys  lawd  ye  syng  :  Exultet  celum  laudibus  !  663 

Jjfinis  cofajuercionis1  Sancti  Pauli. 
1  Corr.  by  F.  2  Supplied  by  F.  8  p.  summittens. 


THE    PLAY    OF    THE    SACRAMENT. 


The  basis  of  the  text  is  the  edition  by  Whitley  Stokes,  Publications  of  the  Philo- 
logical Society,  1860-61,  collated  with  the  MS.  in  the  Library  of  Trinity  College, 
Dublin.  The  MS.  is  assigned  to  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century.  In  the  footnotes, 
S.  indicates  the  readings  of  Stokes's  edition,  which  represents  the  MS.  unless  the 
contrary  is  expressly  stated ;  H.  indicates  the  emendations  of  Holthausen,  Englische 
Studien,  XVI,  150!.,  and  Anglia,  XV,  198  ff. 


[THE  BANES  OF  THE  PLAY.] 

PRIMUS  VEXILLATOR.     Now  the.  Father  &  the  Sune  &  the 
Holy  Goste, 

That  all  this  wyde  worlde  hat[h] 1  wrowg[h]t,1 
Save  all  thes  semely,2  bothe  leste  &  moste, 

And  bry«[g]e 1  yow  to  the  blysse  thai  he  hath  yow  to 
bowght ! 

We  be  ful  purposed  wz't/z  hart  &  vrttA  thowght 
Off  oun?  mater  to  tell  the.  entent,  — 

Off  the  marvellw  that  wer  wondurfely  wrowght 
Off  the  holi  &  bleyssed  Sacrament.  8 

SECUXDUS.     Sid[s]eyns,  &  yt  lyke  yow  to  here  the  purpoos 
of  this  play, 

That  [ys]  J  re-presentyd  now  in  yower  syght 
Whych  in  Aragon  was  doon,3  the  sothe  to  saye, 

In  Eraclea,  that  famous  cyte,  aryght, — 

Ther-in  wowneth  a  m^rchante  off  mekyll  myght, 
Syr  Arystorye  was  called  hys  name, 

Kend  full  fere  v/ith  mani  a  wyght, 
Full  fer  in  the  worlde  sprong  hys  fame.  16 

l  Corr.  by  S.  *  S.  femely.  «  5. ;  MS.  doon. 


24O  THE    PLAY    OF    THE    SACRAMENT. 

PRIMUS.     A-non  to  hym  l  ther  cam  a  Jewe, 

Vfiih  grete  rychesse  for  the  nonys, 
And  wonweth  in  the  cyte  of  Surrey,  —  //ns  2  full  trewe,  — 

Yn  wyche  8  had  gret  ple«te  off  p;-<?cyous  stonys.  20 

Off  th\s  Cristen  nvrchante  he  freyned  4  sore, 

Wane  he  wolde  haue  had  hys  entente.     • 
Twenti  pownd  5  and  iru?rchandyse  mor 

He  prtfferyd  for  the  holy  Sacrament.  24 

SECUNDUS.     But  the  Christen  mercha«nte  theroff  sed  nay, 

Be-cause  hys  profer  was  of  so  lityll  valewe  ; 
An  hundder  pownd  G  but  he  wolde  pay, 

No  lenger  theron  he  shuld  pursewe.  28 

But  mor  off  ther  purpos  they  gun#e 7  speke, 

The  holi  Sacramente  for  to  bye  ; 
And  all  for  [that]  //ze[i]  wolde  8  be  wreke, 

A  gret  sume  off  gold  be-gune  down  ley.  32 

PRIMUS.     Thys  Crysten  m^rchante  co«sentyd,  the  sothe  to 
sey, 

And  in  the  nyght  affter  made  hym  delyu^rance.9 
Thes  Jewes  all  grete  joye  made  they, 

But  off  thys  betyde  a  stranger  chano? :  36 

They  grevid  our  Lord  gretly  on  grownd, 
And  put  hym  to  a  new^  10  passyon  ; 

1  MS.  hyn ;  corr.  by  S.  2  S.  supplies  [ys]. 

8  S.  supplies  [he],  but  the  final  -e  of  wyche  contains  he.  In  MS.  at  the 
beginning  of  this  line  the  first  four  -words  of  the  next  line  -were  written  by 
mistake  and  then  crossed  out. 

*  MS.  freynend ;  corr.  by  S. 

6  MS.  xxti  li ;  S.  xxti  pownd. 

•  MS.  An  c  li ;  S.  An  c  pownd. 
?  S.  gune;  MS.  gune. 

8  MS.  woldr;  S.  composed  a  new  line:  And  all  on  the  sauyowr  of  the 
world  to  be  wreke ;  the  corrections  above  are  by  H. 

9  MS.;  S.  deliu^rance. 

10  The  word  in  MS.  is  said  to  look  like  nell<?,  but  cf.  723. 


THE    BANES    OF    THE    PLAY.  24! 

With  daggers  gouen  hym  many  a  greuyos  wou«d  ; 

Nayled  hym  to   a  pyller  ;    w/t#  pynsons  plukked   hym 

dou«e.  40 

SECUNDUS.     And    sythe   thay   toke   thai   blysed   Brede   so 
sowwde 

And  in  a  cawdron  they  ded  hym  boyle,1 
In  a  clothe  full  just  they  yt  wou«de, 

And  so  they  ded  hym  sethe  in  oyle ;  44 

And  than  thay  putt  hym  to  a  new  tormentry, 

In  an  hoote  ouyn2  speryd  hym  fast. 
There  he  appyred  wz't/z  woutfdw  blody  ; 

The  ovyn  refe  a-sondre  &  all  tobrast. 

PRIMUS.     Thus  in  ouer  lawe  they  wer  made  stedfast ; 
The  holy  Sacreme«t  sheuyd  them  grette  faueur  ; 

In  contrycyon  th[e]yr  herds  wer  cast, 
And  went  &  shewyd  ther  lyues  to  a  co«fesour.  52 

Thus  be  maracle  off  //ze  Kyng  of  hevyn 

And  by  myght  &  power  govyn  to  the.  presto's  mowthe 
In  an  howshold  wer  con[v]^rtyd  3  i-wys  elevyn.* 

At  Rome  this  5  myracle  ys  knowen  well  kowthe. 

SECUNDUS.     Thys  marycle  at  Rome  was  presented,  for 

sothe, 
Yn  the  yere  of  ou<?r  6  Lord  a  Mlcccclxi 7 

That  the  Jewes  that8  holy  Sacrament  dyd  with* 
In  the  forest  seyd  of  Aragon.  60 

Be-low  thus  God  at  a  tyme  showyd  hym  there, 

Thorwhe  hys  m^rcy  &  hys  mekyll  myght  ; 
Vnto  the  Jewes  he  gan  10  appere 

That  thei  shuld  nat  lesse  hys  hevenly  lyght. 

1  MS.  boylde ;  corr.  by  S.  6  MS.  apparently  ys  ys ;  corr.  by  S. 

2  MS.  hoote  ob  ouyn ;  corr.  by  S.      6  S.  your. 

8  Corr.  by  S.  1  g.  M'ccCc.c.lxi. 
•*  S.  I  wyll  wys  xi.  8  5.  wt. 

9  H.  suggested  the  addition  0/nothe  ;  but  later  627  made  him  doubtful. 
10  MS.  gayn ;  S.  [did  a-]gayn. 


242         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

PRIMUS.     So  therfor,  frendz>,  w/t/z  all  your  myght 
Vnto  youer  gostly  father  shewe  your  synne  ; 

Beth  in  no  wanhope  daye  nor  nyght. 
No  maner  off  dowghtzj  that.  Lord  put  in  ;  68 

ffor  thai  the  dowgthtz>  //ze  Jewys  than  in  stode,  — 

As  ye  shall  se  pleyd,  both  more  &  lesse,  — 
Was  yff  the  Sacrament  wer  flesshe  &  blode  ; 

Therfor  they  put  yt  to  suche  dystresse. 

SECUNDUS.      And   yt   place   yow,  thys   gaderyng  thai 

here  ys, 
At  Croxston  on  Monday  yt  shall  be  sen  ; 

To  see  l  the  conclusyon  of  this  lytell  pr^cesse 
Hertely  welcuw  shall  yow  bene.  76 

Now  Jh^ni  yow  sawe  from  2  trey  8  &  tene, 

To  *  send  vs  hys  hyh^  ioyes  of  hevyne, 
There  myght  ys  wz't/zouton  mynd  5  to  mene  ! 

Now,  mynstrell,  blow  vp  wz't^  a  mery  stevyn  !  80 

Explicit. 


Here  after  foloweth  the  Play  of  the  Conversyon 
of  Ser  Jonathas  the  Jewe  by  Myracle  of  the. 
Blyssed  Sacrament. 

ARISTORIUS  MERCA-TOR.®  Now  Cryst,  thai  ys  ou<?r  Creatour, 
from  shame  he  cure  vs  ; 

He  7  maynteyn  vs  vfiih  myrth  that  meve  vpon  the  mold  ; 
Vnto  hys  endlesse  joye  myghtly  he  restore  vs, 

All  tho  that  in  hys  8  name  in  peas  well  them  hold  ; 

1  H.  wishes  to  read  say.  4  Qy-  And. 

2  MS.  froii ;  corr.  by  S.  5  Qy.  end,  or  mynn. 
*  S.  treyn  ;  corr.  by  H. 

«  A  list  of  dramatis  personae  is  given  at  the  end  of  the  play,  p.  276. 
7  MS.  be;  corr.  by  S.  8  S.  thys. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT.         243 

For  of  a  merchante  most  myght  therof  my  tale  ys  told, 
In  Eraclea  ys  now  suche,  woso l  wyll  vnder-stond, 

For  off  all  Aragon  I  am  most  myghty  of  sylu<?r  &  of 

gold,  — 
ffor,  &  yt  wer  a  cou«tre  to  by,  now  wold  I  nat  wond.  8 

Syr  Arystory  is  my  name, 

A  merchante  myghty  of  a  royall  araye  ; 
fful  wyde  in  this,  worlde  spryngyth  my  fame, 

Fen?  kend  &  knowen,  tht  sothe  for  to  saye. 

In  all  man^r  of  londz'-r,  wz't^out  ony  naye, 
My  m^rchandyse  renneth,  thz  sothe  for  to  tell  ; 

In  Gene  &  in  Jenyse  &  in  Genewaye, 
In  Surrey2  &  in  Saby  &  in  Saleru«  I  sell ;  16 

In  Antyoche  &  in  Almayn  moch  ys  my  myght, 

In  Braban  &  in  Brytayn  I  am  full  bold, 
In  Calabre  &  in  Coleyn  ther  ryng^8  I  full  ryght, 

In  Dordrede  &  in  Denmark  [I]  be  thz  chyffe  cold,4 

In  Alysander  I  haue  abu«daw[n]se  5  in  the  wyde  world, 
In  France  &  in  Farre  fresshe  be  my  flower[is],5 

In  Gyldre  &  in  Galys  haue  I  bowght  &  sold, 
In  Hamborowh^  &  in  Holond  moch^  m^rchantdyse  ys  owm  ;    24 

In  Jerusalem  &  in  Jherico  a-mo#g  the  Jewes  jentle, 

Amo[n]g5tho  Caldeys  &  Cattlyng/j  kend  ys  my  komyng  ; 

In  Raynes  6  &  in  Rome  to  Seynt  Petyrs  temple 

I  am  knowen  certenly  for  bying  &  sellyng  ;  28 

In  Mayn  &  in  Melan  full  mery  haue  I  be  ; 

Owtof  Naveru«  to  Naples  moch  good  ys  that  I  bryng  ; 
In  Pondere  &  in  Portyngale  moche  ys  my  gle  ; 

In  Spayne  &  in  Spruce  moche  ys  my  spedyng  ; 

In  Lombardy  &  in  Lachborn,  there  ledde  ys  my  lykyng  ; 

1  S.  w[h]oso.  2  MS.  surgery;  S.  surry.  3  S.  suggests  reygne. 

4  H.  reads  I  haue  be  the  chyffe  told;  told  is  probably  right. 
6  S.  6  H.  reads  Raymes. 


244        THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

In  Taryfe  &  in  Turkey,  there  told  ys  my  tale ; 

And  in  the.  dukedow  of  Oryon  moche  have  I  in  weldyng  : 
And  thus  thorowght  all  this  world  sett  ys  my  sale.  36 

No  man  in  thys  world  may  weld  more  rychesse; 

All  I  thank  God  of  hys  grace,  for  he  yt 1  me  sent ; 
And  as  a  lordts  pere  thus  lyve  I  in  worthynesse. 

My  curat  waytheth  2  vpon  me  to  knowe  myn  intent, 

And  me«  at  my  weldyng,  &  all  ys  me  lent 
My  well  for  to  worke  in  thys  worlde  so  wyde.8 

Me  dare  they  nat  dysplese  by  no  condescent,4 
And  who-so  doth,  he  ys  nat  able  to,  a-byde.  44 

PRESBYTER.     No  ma«  shall  you  tary  ne  t[r]owble  5  thys  tyde, 

But  ev^ry  maw  delygently  shall  do  yow  plesance  ; 
And  I  vnto  my  connyng  to  the,  best  shall  hem  guyde 

Vnto  6  God/j  plesyng  to  s^rue  yow  to  utterance  ; 7 
ffor  ye  be  worthy  &  notable  in  substance  of  good, 

Off  merchants  of  Aragon  ye  have  no  pere,  — 
And  ther-of  thank  God  thai  dyed  on  the  roode, 

That  was  your  makers  &  hath  yow  dere.  52 

ARISTORIUS.     For  soth,  syr  pryst,  yovver  talkyng  ys  good ; 

And  therfor  affter  your  talkyng  I  wyll  atteyn 
To  wourshyppe  my  God  that  dyed  on  the  roode, 

Neu*?r8  whyll  thai  I  lyve  ageyn  thai  wyll  I  seyn. 

But,  Petyr  Powle,  my  clark,  I  praye  the  goo  wele  pleyn 
Thorowght  all  Eraclea,9  that  thow  ne  wonde,9 

And  wytte  yff  ony  m^rchante  be  come  to  this  reyn 
Of  Surrey  or  of  Sabe  or  of  Shelys-down.  60 

CLERICUS.     At  you^r  wyll  for  to  walke  I  wyl  nat  say  nay, 
Smertly  to  go  serche  at  the  watem  syde  ; 

1  S.  yt.  4  MS.  condestent ;  corr.  by  S. 

2  H.  corrects  to  wayteth.  6  S. 

8  In  S.  misprinted  wydc.  6  Qy.  Vnder. 

T  S.  attrueance;  H.  proposes  accrueance. 
8  MS. ;  S.  Ever,  but,  as  H.  faints  out,  Neuer  is  right. 
*•>  H.  proposes  both  vp  and  down,  cf.  1.  66. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT.        245 

Yff  ony  pleasant  bargyn  be  to  your  paye, 

As  swyftly  as  I  caw  I  shall  hym  to  yow  guyde. 
Now  wyll  I  walke  by  thes  pathes  wyde, 

And  seke  the  haven  both  vp  and  down 

To  wette  yf  ony  unkowth l  shyppes  therin  do  ryde, 

Of  Surrey  or  of  Saby  [or]2  of  Shelys-down.  68 

Now  shall  th*  mercAanAs  man  with-drawe  hym  and  the /ewe  Jonathan  shall 
make  hys  lest? 

JONATHAS.     Now,  almighty  Machomet,  marke  4  in  th\  mageste, 

Whose 5  lawes  tendrely  I  have  to  f ulfyll, 
After  my  dethe  bryng  me  to  thy  hyh*  see, 

My  sowle  for  to  save  yff  yt  be  thy  wyll ; 

For  myn  entent  ys  for  to  fulfyll 
As  my  gloryus  God  the  to  honer.6 

To  do  agen  thy  entent,  yt  shuld  gr[e]ue  me  yll 
Or  agen  thyn  lawe  for  to  reporte  ;  76 

For  I  thawke  the  hayly  tha\.  hast  me  sent 

Gold,7  syluer  &  pr<?syous  stonys, 
And  abu«ddance  of  spycz'j  tho\i  hast  me  lent, 

A[s]  2  I  shall  reherse  before  yow  onys  : 

I  have  amatyst/J  ryche  for  the  nonys 
And  baryll/j  that  be  bryght  of  ble, 

And  saphyre  semely  I  may  show  yow  attonys 
And  crystalys  clere  for  to  se  ;  84 

I  have  dyamant/j  dere-wourthy  to  8  dresse, 

And  emerawdz'-r,  ryche  I  trow  they  be, 
Onyx  and  achat/j9  both  more  &  lesse. 

Topa^yons,  smaragdzV  of  grete  degre, 

Perlys  precyous  grete  plente  ; 

l  MS.  on  knowth  ;  corr.  by  S.  2  3. 

s  H.  reads  best ;  /  can  suggest  nothing  better  than  host  (=  boast). 

*  Qy.  moste.  6  S.  whoses  ;  see  Notes. 

6  H.  faints  out  that  honer  does  not  rhyme  with  reporte ;  possibly  beste 
should  be  added  after  honer,  and  resiste  substituted  for  reporte ;  for  rhyme, 
cf.  1.  142.  "  S.  prints  godd,  but  emends  to  gold  in  his  Glossary. 

8  MS.  appears  to  have  do  before  to.  9  MS.  Machatw;  corr.  by  S. 


246         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

Of  rubes  ryche  I  have  grete  renown  ; 

Crepawdz'j  &  calcedonyes  semely  to  se, 
A[nd]  l  curyous  carbu«clys  here  ye  fynd  mown  ;  92 

Spycz'-r  I  hawe  both  grete  &  smale 

In  my  shyppes,  the  sothe  for  to  saye, 
Gyngere,  lycoresse  and  ca«nyngalle, 

And  iygis  fatte  to  plese  yow  to  paye, 
Peper  and  saffyro«  &  spycis  smale, 

And  datz'-y  wole  dulcett  for  to  dresse, 
Almu;zdis  and  reys,  full  euery  male, 

And  reysones  both  more  &  less^  ;  loo 

Clowys,  greynis  2  &  gynger  grene, 

Mace,  mastyk  that  myght  ys, 
Synymone,  suger,  as  yow  may  3  sene, 

Long4  peper  and  Indas  lycorys, 

Orengw  a[nd]  1  apples  of  grete  ?pryce, 
Pungarnetz'j  5  &  many  other  spycts  — 

To  tell  yow  all  I  have  now,  i-wys,6 — 
And  moche  other  m<?rchandyse  of  e[v]*ryl  sondry  spycis.        108 

Jew  Jonathas  thys  ys  my  name,7 

Jazon  &  Jazdon  th&\  waytyn  on  my  wyUV, 
Masfat  &  Malchus  they  do  the  same, 

As  ye  may  knowe,  yt  ys  bothe  rycht  &  skylk. 

I  telle  yow  alk,  bi  dal  and  by  hylle, 
In  Eraclea  ys  noon  so  moche  of  myght. 

Werfor  ye  owe  tenderli  to  tende  me  tylle, 
For  I  a#z  chefe  merchant*?  of  Jewes,  I  telle  yow  be  ryght.         116 

But,  Jazon  &  Jazdon,  a  mater  wolld^  8  I  mene,  — 
Mer-velously  9  yt  ys  ment  in  mynde,  — 

1  S.  45.  leng. 

2  MS.  grenyis ;  corr.  by  S.          6  MS. ;  S.  pumgarnetir. 
*  S.  mayw.  *  S.I  wyse. 

7  MS.  Jew  Jonathas  ys  my  ys  name ;  corr.  by  S. 

8  MS.  wolldw- ;  corr.  by  S. 

9  H. ;  S.  retains  reading  of  MS.,  mer  velensly. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT.         247 

The  beleve  of  thes  Crysten  men  ys  false,  as  I  wene, 

For  //2e[i]  beleve  on  a  cake,  —  me  thynk  yt  ys  onkynd,  — 
And  alte  they  seye  how  the  prest  dothe  yt  bynd, 

And  be  the  myght  of  hys  word  make  yt l  flessh  &  blode,  — 
And   thus   be   a   conceyte   //ze[i] 2   wolde    make   vs 
blynd,  — 

And  how  thai  yt  shuld  be  he  thai  deyed  upon  the.  rode.  1 24 

JASON.     Yea,  yea,  master,  a  strawe  for  talis  ! 

That  ma  not  f alle  3  in  my  beleve  ; 
But  myt 4  we  yt  gete  onys  wz't/nn  our  pales, 

I  trowe  we  shuld  sone  affter  putt  yt  in  a  preve.6 

JASDON.     Now,  be  Machomete  so  myghty,  thai  ye  doon 

of  6  meue 
I  wold  I  wyste  how  thai  we  myght  yt  gete  ; 

I  swer7  be  my  grete  god,  &  ellys  mote  I  nat  cheue 
But  wyghtly  the[r]on  2  wold  I  be  wreke.  132 

MASPHAT.     Yea,   I  dare  sey  feythfulli  thai  ther  feyth  [ys 
fals  :]8 

That  was  neuer  he  that  on  Caluery  was  kyld, 
Or  in  bred  for  to  be  blode  yt  ys  ontrewe  als  ; 9 

But  yet  wiih  ther  wyles  the\  wold  we  were  wyld. 

MALCUS.     Yea,  I  am  myghty  Malchus,  thai  boldly  am 

byld  ; 
That  brede  for  to  bete  byggly  am  I  bent. 

Onys  out  of  ther  hand/j  &  yt  myght  be  exyled, 
To  helpe  castyn  yt  in  care  wold  I  consent.  140 

JONAT[H]AS.Z     Well,  syrse,  than  kype  cu«sel,  I  cuwmande 

yow  all, 

And  no  word  of  all  thys  be  wyst. 
But  let  us  walke  to  see  Arystories  halk, 

1  S.  y*.  4  H.  corrects  the  spelling  to  myght. 

25.  5  S. ;  MS.  praye.          ?  S.  seuer.         » S.  als[o]. 

3  H. ;  S.  manot  sale.    6  3.  of[t].  8  S.  [ys  so]. 


248         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

And  affter-ward  more  cou»selli  amowg  vs  shall l  caste. 

Wz't//  hym  to  bey  &  to  sel  I  am  of  powere  prest ; 
A  hargyn  vnith  hym  to  make  I  wyll  assaye  ; 

ffof  gold  &  syluer  I  am  nothyng  agast 
But  that,  we  shall  get  that,  cake  to  ower  paye.  148 

Her  shall  jer  Ysodyr,  the  prest,  speke  -with*  .rer  Ary start,  seyng  on  thyc 
ivyse  to  hym  ;  &*Jonatkas  goo  don  s  of  his  stage. 

PRESBITER.     Syr,  be  your  leue,  I  may  [no]  4  le#gere  dwell ; 

Yt  ys  fer  paste  none,  yt  ys  tyme  to  go  to  cherche, 
There  to  saye  myn  evynsong,  forsothe  as  I  yow  tell, 

And  syth  come5  home  ageyne,  as  I  aw  wont  to  werche.    152 

ARISTORIUS.     Sir  Isydor,  I  praye  yow,  walke  at  yowr  wylk, 

ffor  to  serfe  God  yt  ys  well  done  ; 
And  syt[h]  6  com<?  agen  &  ye  shall  suppe  your  fylk, 
And  walke  tha«  to  your 7  chamber,  as  ye  ar  wont  to  doon.        1 56 

Her  shall  the  marchanAs  man  8  mete  with  the  femes. 

JONAT[H]AS.G     A  !  Petre  Powle,  good  dctye  &  wele  i-mett  !9 

Wer  ys  thy  10  master,  as  I  the  pray  ? 
CLERICUS.     Lon[g]  6  from  hym  haue  I  not  lett 

Syt[h]6  I  cam  irom  hym,  the.  sothe  for  to  saye. 

Wat  tidyng  wz'tA  yow,  ser,  I  yow  praye, 
Affter  my  master  that,  ye  doo  fraye«? 

Haue  ye  ony  bargen  that,  wer  to  hys  paye? 
Let  me  haue  knowlech  ;  I  shall  wete  hym  to  seyn.  164 

JHONATHAS.     I  haue  bargenes  royaUV  &  ry[c]h  6 

ffor  a  marchante  \vitA  to  bye  and  sell  ; 
In  all  thys  lond  is  ther  non  lyke 

Off  abu«dano?  of  good,  as  I  will  tell.  168 

1  S.  inserts  [be].  65. 

2  S.  out.  7  S.  yor. 

8  H.  corrects  the  spelling  to  down.    8  MS.  marchant  men ;  corr.  by  S. 
*  S.  [nat].  9  MS.  I  mett ;  S.  imett. 

5  MS.  cone ;  corr.  6y  S.  10  S.  they. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT.         249 

Her  shall  th*  clerk  goon  to  svc  A  ristori,  saluting  him  thus  : 

CLERICUS.     All  hayll,  master,  &  wel  mot  yow  be  ! : 

Now  tydyngtf  can  I  yow  tell : 
Z/fce  grettest  marchante  in  all  Surre 
Ys  come  wz't^  yow  to  bey  &  sell, 

This  tale  ryght  well  he  me  told.2 
Sir  Jonat[h]as  3  ys  hys  nam, 
A  marchant  of  ryght  gret  fame  ; 
He  wolldtf  sell  yow,  w/t^-out  blame, 

P[l]ente  8  of  clothe  of  golde.  177 

ARISTORIUS.     Petre  Powle;  I  can  thz  thanke  ! 

I  prey  thz.  rychely  araye  myn  hall? 
As  owyth  for  a  marchant  of  the  banke  ; 

Lete  non  defawte  be  fownd  at  all*?. 

CLERICUS.     Sekyrly,  master,  no  m[o]re  8  ther  shall. 
Styffly  about  1  thynke  to  stere, 

Hasteli  4  to  hange  your  parlowr  wz't^  pall, 
As  longeth  for  a  lordis  pere.  185 

Here  shall  thejewe  merchants  &"  his  men  come  to  th*  Cristeu  merchante. 

JONATHAS.     All  haylle,  syr  Aristorye,  semele  to  se, 

The  myghtyest  nvrchante  off  Arigon  ! 
Off  yower  welfare  fayn  wet  wold  we, 

And  to  bargeyn  wz't^  you  t&is  day  am5  I  bou«.  189 

ARISTORIUS.     Sir  Jonathas,  ye  be  weltecuw  vnto  myn  halk  ! 

I  pray  yow  come  vp  &  sit  bi  me, 
And  tell<?  me  wat  good  ye  haue  to  selk, 

And  yf  ony  bargeyn  6  mad  may  be.  193 

JONATHAS.     I  haue  clothe  of  gold,  pm:yous  stons  &  spyc^ 

plente. 
Wyth  yow  a  bargen  wold  I  make  ;  — 

1  S.  for  MS.  yowbe. 

2  MS.  this  1 1  \J\  ryght  nell  heme  tell ;  corr.  by  S.    Perhaps  the  fourth 
•word  should  be  now;  cf.  p.  240,  1.  38.  *  H. ;  S.  hasterli. 

8  S.  5  s. ;  MS.  an. 

6  S.  bargeny ;  bargen  ymade  seems  unlikely. 


THE    PLAY    OF    THE    SACRAMENT. 

I  wold  bartre  wyth  yow  in  pryvyte 

On  lytell^thyng,1  ye  wylle  me  yt  take 

Prevely  in  this,  stownd 
And  I  woll?  sure  yow  be  thys  lyght, 
Neu<?r  dystrie  yow  daye  nor  nyght, 
But  be  sworn  to  yow  full  ryght 

And  geve  yow  twenti  pownde.2  202 

ARISTORIUS.     Sir  Jonathas,  sey  me  for  my  sake, 

What  man^r  of  marchandis  ys  yt  8  ye  mene  ? 
JONATHAS.     Yowr  God,  thai  ys  full  mytheti,  in  a  cake, 

And  thys  good  anoon  shall  yow  seen. 

[ARISTORIUS.]  4     Nay,  in  feyth,  thai  shall  not  bene. 
I  wollnot  for  an  hundder  5  pownd 

To  stond  in  fere  my  Lord  to  tene 
And  ior  so  lytelL?  a  walew  in  cowscyence  6  to  stond  bownd.       210 

JONATHAS.     Sir,  th&  entent  ys  if  I  myght  knowe  or  vnder- 
take 

Yf  thai  he  were  God  alk-myght  ; 
Off  all  my  mys  I  woll  amende  make 

And  doon  hym  wourshepe  bothe  day  £  nyght.  214 

ARISTORIUS.     Jonathas,  trowth  I  shall  thz  tell  : 

I  stond  in  gret  dowght  to  do  thai  dede, 
To  yow  thai  bere  all  7  for  to  sell 

I  fere  me  thai  I  shuld  stond  in  drede  ; 

ffor,  &  I  vnto  the  chyrche  yede, 
And  preste  or  clerke  myght  me  aspye, 

To  tht  bysshope  th€\  wolde  go  telk  thai  dede 

me  of  eresye.8  222 


JONATHAS.     Sir,  as  for  thai,  good  shyffte  may  ye  make, 
And,  for  a  vaylle,  to  walkyn  on  a  nyght 

1  H.  inserts  yf.  6  H.  reads  hunderd. 

2  MS.  xxti  li.  ;  S.  xx^  pownd.    6  S.  ;  MS.  cowstyene. 
»  S.  yt.  7  Qy.  bereall  =  beryl. 

4  S.  8  S.  tresye  ;  H.  apostasye,  but  cf.  1.  777. 


THE    PLAY    OF    THE    SACRAMENT.  2$  I 

Wan  prest  &  clerk  to  rest  ben  take  ; 

Than  shall  ye  be  spyde  of  no  wyght. 

ARISTORIUS.     Now  sey  me,  Jonathas,  be  this  lyght ! 
Wat  payment  therior  wollde  yow  me  make  ? 

JONATHAS.     Forty  pownd,1  &  pay  yt  fulryght, 
Evyn  for  thai  Lorde  2  sake.  230 

ARISTORIUS.      Nay,  nay,  Jonathas,  there-agen  ; 

I  w[o]lds  not  for  an  hunder4  pownd. 
JONATHAS.     Sir,  hir  ys  [yojw^r3  askyng  toolde  pleyn, 

I  shall  yt  tell  in  this  stownd.  234 

{Counts  out  the  money '.] 

Here  is  an  hunder  pownd,6  neyther  mor  nor  lesse, 

Of  dokettw  good,  I  dar  well  saye  ; 
Tell  yt  er  yow  from  me  passe. 

Me  thynketh  yt  a  royally  araye  !  238 

But  fyrst,  I  pray  yow,  tell  me  thys  : 

Off  thys  thyng  whan  shalte  I  hafe  delyu^rance? 
ARISTORI.     To-morowe  be-tymes  ;  I  shallnot  myse  ; 

This  nyght  therfor  I  shall^  make  pwrveance.  242 

Syr  Isodyr  he  ys  now  at  chyrch, 
There  seyng  hys  evynsong, 
As  yt  ys6  worshepe  for  to  werche  ; 

He  shall  sone  cum  home,  he  wyll  nat  be  long, 

Hys  soper  for  to  eate ; 
And  when*?  he  ys  buskyd  to  hys  bedde, 
Ryght  sone  [t]here-after  he7  shalbe  spedd. — 
No  speche  among  yow  ther  be  spredd  ; 

To  kepe  your  toung/>  ye  nott  lett.  251 

JONATHAS.     Syr,  almyghty  Machomyght  be  w/L&  yow  ! 
And  I  shalL?  cum  agayn  ryght  sone. 

1  MS.  xl  li. ;  S.  xl  pownd.  *  S.  has  C. 

2  H.  reads  lordes.  6  MS.  has  C.  li. ;  S.  has  C.  pownd. 
»  S.                   6  S.  As  yt  hys ;  H.  As  yt  [ys]  hys.  7  H.  ye. 


252  THE    PLAY    OF    THE    SACRAMENT. 

ARYSTORIUS.     Jonathas,  ye  wott  what  I  haue  sayd,  &  how 

I  shalli?  warke  l  for  that  we  haue  to  donn.  255 

Here  goeth  the  Jewys  away  &"  th^  prtste  commyth  home. 

PRESBITER.     Syr,  almyghty  God  mott  be  yow^r  gyde 

And  glad  yow  where-soo  ye  rest ! 
ARISTORIUS.     Syr,  ye  be  welcom  home  thys  tyde  ! 

Now,  Peter,  gett  vs  wyne  of  the  best.  259 

CLERICUS.     Syr,  here  ys  a  drawte  of  Romney  Red, 

Ther  ys  no  better  in  Aragon, 
And  a  lofe  of  lyght  bred,  — 

Yt  ys  holesom,  as  sayeth  th&  fesycyon.  263 

ARYSTORIUS.     Drynke  of,2  ser  Isoder,  &  be  of  good  chere ! 

Thys  Romney  ys  good  to  goo  w/tA  to  reste  ; 
Ther  ys  no  precyouser  fer  nor  nere, 

For  alh?  wykkyd  metys  yt  wylh?  degest.  267 

PRESBITER.     Syr,  thys  wyne  ys  good  at  a  taste, 

And  ther-of  haue  I  drunke  ryght  welk. 
To  bed  to  gone  thus  haue  I  cast 

Euyn  strayt  after  thys  mery  mele.  271 

Now,  ser,  I  pray  to  God  send  yow  good  nyght,8 

ffor  to  my  chamber  now  wylL?  I  gonne. 
ARISTORIUS.'    S*?r,  w/t#  yow  be  God  almyght,4 

And  sheld  yow  euer  from  yowr  fone  !  275 

[Exit  the  priest]    Here  shall  A  ristorius  call  hys  clarke  to  hys  present. 

Howe,  Peter  !  In  the  ys  all  my  trust, 
In  especyall?  to  kepe  my  conselh?  : 

1  S.  walke. 

2  H.  reads  therof,  as  in  269  ;  but  of  is  off. 
8  S.  rest ;  emend,  by  H. 

4  S.  reads  almyght[est],  and  says:  "  The  scribe  had  added  a  y  and  ex- 
punged it  imperfectly!'1  This  seems  to  justify  H.  in  retaining  the  MS. 
reading. 


THE    PLAY    OF    THE    SACRAMENT.  2 53 

ffor  a  lytyll?  waye  walkyn  I  must. 

I  wyll*  not  be  long  ;  trust  as  I  the  tell*.  279 

[He  goes  toward  the  church^ 

Now  pr<?uely  wyll*  I  p*rsew  my  pace, 

My  bargayn  thys  nyght  for  to  fulfyll*. 
Ser  Isoder  shall*?  nott  know  of  thys  case, 

For  he  hath  oftyn  sacred,  as  yt  ys  skylk. 

The  chyrche  key  ys  at  my  wyll*  ; 
Ther  ys  no-thyng*  thai  me  shall*  tary, 

I  wyll*  nott  abyde  by  dale  nor  hyll* 
Tyll*  yt  be  wrowght,  by  Saynt  Mary  !  287 

Here  shal  he  enter  th^  chyrche  &°  take  th*  Hoost. 

Ah  !  now  haue  I  all*  my#  entent ; 

Vnto  Jonathas  now  wyll<?  I  fare  ; 
To  full*fyll*  my  bargayn  haue  I  ment, 

For  tha\.  mony  wyll*  amend  my  fare, 
As  thynketh  me. 

\Exitfrotn  church,] 

But  now  wyll<?  I  passe  by  thes  pathes  playne  ; 
To  mete  w/t£  Jonathas  I  wold  fayne. 
Ah  !  yonder  he  comwzyth  in  certayne  ; 

Me  thynkyth  I  hym  see  !  296 

Welcom,  Jonathas,  gentyUV  &  trew, 

ffor  welk  &  tr[e]wly l  thou  kepyst  thyn  howre  ; 
Here  ys  the  Host,  sacred  newe. 

Now  wylL?  I  home  to  halle  &  bowre.  300 

JONATHAS.     And  I  shall  kepe  thys  trusty  treasure 

As  I  wold  doo  my  gold  and  fee. 
Now  in  thys  clothe  I  shall*  the  couer, 

That  no  wyght  shall*  the  see.  304 

i  S. 


254         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

Here  shall  A  ry story  goo  hys  waye  &*Jonathas  &  kys  seruauniis  shall  goo 
to  the  tabyll  thus  sayng: 

JONATHAS.     Now,  Jason  &  Jasdon,  ye  1  be  Jewys  jentylk, 

Masfat  &  Malchus,  that  myghty  arn  in  mynd, 
Thys  merchant  from  the  Crysten  temple 

Hath<?  gett  vs  thys  bred  that 2  make  vs  thus  blynd. 

Now,  Jason,  as  jentylk  as  euer  was  the  lynde, 
Into  the  forsayd  parlowr  preuely  take  thy  pase  ; 

Sprede  a  clothe  on  the  tabyll  thai  ye  shalk  Mere  fynd, 
And  we  shanV  folow  after  to  carpe  of  thys  case.  312 

Now  the  Jewys  goon  &=  lay  the  Ost  on  the  tabyll,  sayng: 

JONATHAS.     Sym,  I  praye  yow  alh?,  harkyn  to  my  sawe  ! 

Thes  Crysten  men  carpyn  of  a  rrwvelows  3  case  ; 
They  say  thai  this  ys  Ihi.ru  thai  was  attaynted  in  ow^r  lawe 

And  thai  thys  ys  he  thai  crwcyfyed  was.  316 

On  thes  wordys  there  law  growndyd  hath  he 

That  he  sayd  on  Sherethursday  at  hys  soper  : 
He  brake  the  brede  &  sayd  Accipite, 

And  gave  hys  dyscyplys  them  for  to  chere  ; 

And  more  he  sayd  to  them  there, 
Whyle  they  were  aMe  together  &  sum, 

Syttyng  at  the  table  soo  clere, 
Comedite,  \Jioc  esf\  corpus  meum.  324 

And  thys  powre  he  gaue  Peter  to  pr^clame, 

And  how  the  same  shuld  be  suffycyent  to  all?  pr^chors  ; 
The  bysshoppys  &  curatz'-r  saye  the  same, 

And  soo,  as  I  vnderstond,  do  all<?  hys  pr^genytors.  328 

JASON.     Yea,  sum  men  in  thai  law  reherse  a-nother  : 

They  say  of  a  maydyn  borne  was  hee, 
And  how  Joachyms  dowghter  shuld  be  hys  mother, 

Ana1  how  Gabrelh?  apperyd  &  sayd  Aue  ; 

1  Qy-  yl-  2  S.  inserts  wold.  »  MS. ;  S.  marvelous. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT.         255 

And  with  thai  worde  she1  shuld  conceyuyd  be, 
And  thai  in  hyr  shuld  lyght  the  Holy  Cost,  — 

Ageyns  ow^r  law  thys  ys  false  heresy,  — 
And  ye.it  they  saye  he  ys  of  myght/j  most.  336 

JASDON.     They  saye  that  Ih&ru  to  be  ow^r  kyng^, 

But  I  wene  he  bowght  yt2  full*?  dere. 
But  they  make  a  royalk  aray  of  hys  vprysy«g  ; 

And  that  in  euery  place  ys  pr^chyd  farre  &  nere, 

And  how  he  to  hys  dyscyples  agayn  dyd  appere, 
To  Thomas  and  to  Mary  Mawdelen, 

And  syth  how  he  styed  by  hys  own  powre  5  8 
And  thys,  ye  know  well,  ys  heresy  fulte  playn.  344 

MASPHAT.     Yea,  &  also  they  say  he  sent  them  wytt  &  wys- 

dom 

ffor  to  vnderstond  euery  langwage  ; 
When  the.  Holy  Cost  to  them  came,  4 

They  faryd  as  dronk  men  of  pymente  or  v^rnage  ; 
And  sythen  how  that  he  lykenyd    hym-self  a  lord  of 

p<zrage, 
On  hys  fatherys  ryght  hond  he  hym  sett. 

They  hold  hym  wyser  than  euer  was  Syble  sage, 
And  strenger   than   Alexander,   that  alk  th&  worde6  ded 

gett.  352 

MALCHUS.     Yea,  yet  they  say  as  fals,  I  dare  laye  my  hedde, 

How  they  that  be  ded  shall  com  agayn  to  Judgement, 
And  ow^r  dredfulk  Judge  shalbe  thys  same  brede, 

And  how  lyfe  eu^rlastyng  them  shuld  be  lent. 

And  thus  they  hold,  all  at  one6  consent, 
Be-cause  that  Phylyppe  sayd  for  a  lytylk  glosse  — 

To  turne  vs  from  owr  beleve  ys  ther  entent,  — 
ffor  that  he  sayd  judecare  vtuos  <&-»  mortuos.  360 

1  H.  wishes  to  read  he.  *  So  MS. ;  S.  [dyd]  come. 

2  S.  yl.  5  S.  wor[l]de  ;  but  worde  is  a  common  spelling. 
8  H.  corrects  the  spelling  to  power.        6  MS. ;  S.  on. 


THE    PLAY    OF    THE    SACRAMENT. 

JONATHAS.     Now,  ser/j,  ye  haue  rehersyd  the  substance  of 
ther  *  lawe. 

But  thys  bred  I  wold  myght  be  put  in  a  prete. 
Whether  Mis  be  he  that  in  Bosra  of  vs  had  awe. 

Ther  staynyd  were  hys  clothys,  //«s  may  we  belefe  ; 

Thys  may  we  know,  then?  had  he  grefe, 
For  ow^r  old  bookys  veryfy  thus,  — 

Thereon  he  was  jugett  to  be  hangyd  as  a  thefe, — 
Tine  (is  '2  [_de~\  Bosra  vestibus.  368 

JASON.     Yff  thai  thys  be  he  that  on  Caluery  was  mad  red, 

Onto  my  mynd,  I  shalte  kenne  yow  a  conceyt  good  : 
Surely  wz't/z  ow^r  daggars  we  shalte  ses  on3  thys  bredde, 

And  so  wz't^  clowtz'j  we  shall  know  yf 4  he  haue  eny 

blood. 
JASDON.     Now,  by  Machomyth  so  myghty,  thai  meuyth 

in  my  mode  ! 
Thys  ys  masterly  ment,  thys  matter  thus  to  meue  ; 

Andwiih  ow^r  strokys  we  shall*?  fray  hym  as  he  was  on 

the  rode, 
That  he  was  on  don  viiih  grett  repreue.  376 

MASPHAT.     Yea,  I   pray  yow,  smyte  ye  in  the   myddys  of 
the.  cake, 

And  so  shalk  we  smyte  theron  woundys  fyve  ; 
We  wylh?  not  spare  to  wyrke  yt  wrake 

To  prove  in  thys  brede  yf  ther  be  eny  lyfe.  380 

MALCHUS.     Yea,  goo  w.e  to,  than,  &  take  ow<?r  5  space, 

Andlooke  owr  daggam  be  sharpe  &  kene  ; 
Andvt\\cn  eche  man  a  stroke  smytte  hase, 

In  the  mydylk  parl  thereof  ow^r  master  shalk  bene. 

JONATHAS.      When    ye    haue  alk   smytyn,  my   stroke 
shalbe  sene  ; 

1  MS.  oi";  corr.  by  S.  4  MS.  ys. ;  corr.  by  S. 

2  S.  Tinctio  ;  corr.  by  H.  6  MS.  yow^ ;  emend,  by  S. 
8  S.  seson ;  cf.  390. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT.         2$? 

With  /^is  same  dagger  that  ys  so  styf  &  strong 

In  the  myddys  of  thys  prynt  I  thynke  for  to  prene  ; 
On  lashe  I  shall?  hym<?  lende  or  yt  be  long.  388 

Here  sAalk  the  iiij  Jewys  pryk  ther  daggers  in  iiij  yua[r]ters,1  thus  sayng : 

JASON.     Haue  at  yt  !  Haue  at  yt,  w/t/z  all?  my  myght  ! 

Thys  syde  I  hope  for  to  sese  ! 
JASDON.     And  I  shall  w/t£  thys  blade  so  bryght 

Thys  other  syde  freshely  a-feze  ! 

MASPHAT.     And  I  yow  plyght  I  shall*?  hym  not  please, 
For  with  thys  punche  I  shall?  hym  pryke. 

MALCHUS.     And -with  thys  angus  2  I  shall*?  hym  not  ease, 
A-nother  buffett  shalk  he  lykke.  396 

JONATHAS.     Now  am  I  bold  wz't^  batayle  hym  to  bleyke, 

77«'s  mydle  part  alle  for  to  prene  ; 
A  stowte  stroke  also  for  to  stryke,  — 

In  the.  myddys  yt  shalbe  sene  !  400 

Here  the  Ost  must  blede. 

Ah  !  owt  !  owt  !  harrow  !  what  deuyll?  ys  thys  ? 

Of  thys  wyrk  I  am  in  were  ; 
Yt  bledyth  as  yt  were  woode,  i-wys  ; 

But  yf  ye  helpe,  I  shall  dyspayre.  404 

JASON.     A  fyre  !  a  fyre  !  &  that  in  hast ! 

Anoon  a  cawdron  full?  of  oyle  ! 
JASDON.     And  I  shalle  helpe  yt  wer  in  cast, 

All  the.  iij  howro  fo[r]  l  to  boyle  !  408 

[Malchus  goes  to  get  the  oil.] 

MASPHAT.     Yea,3  here  is  a  furneys  stowte  &  strong, 
And  a  cawdron  therin  dothe  hong  ! 
Malcus,  wher  art  thow  so  long, 

To  helpe  thys  dede  were  dyght  ? 

IS. 

2  Kittredge  suggests  dagger  ;  H.  anguish. 

8  An  attempt  seems  to  have  been  made  to  cancel  the  a  of  yea  in  MS. 


258         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

MALCUS.     Loo,  here  ys  iiij  galons  off  oyle  clere  ! 
Haue  doone  l  fast  !  blowe  up  the  fere  ! 
Syr,  bryng  that  ylke  cake  nere, 

.    Ma#ly,  \\iik  all  yowre  mygthe.  416 

JONATHAS.     And  I  shall  bryng  thai  ylke  cak[e]  2 
And  throw  yt  in,  I  undertake. 
Out  !  out  !  yt  werketh  me  wrake  ! 

I  may  not  awoyd  yt  owt  of  my  hond  ! 
I  wylle  goo  drenche  me  in  a  lake,  — 
And  \n  woodnesse  I  gynne  to  wake  !  3 

I  rene,  I  lepe,  ou<?r  this  lond  !  423 

Her  he  renneth  wood,  with  the  Ost  in  hys  hond. 

JASON.     Renne,  felawes,  renne,4  for  Cokkts  peyn! 
Fast  5  we  had  ow^r  mayster  agene  ! 

[They  catch  Jonathan.] 

Hold  pn?stly  6  on  thys  pleyn  7 

And  taste  bynd  hyme  to  a  poste. 
JASDON.     Here  is  an  hamer  &  naylys  iij,  I  s[e]ye.2 
Lyffte  vp  hys  armys,  felawe[s],  on  hey, 
Whylk  I  dryue  thzs  nayles,  I  yow  praye, 

strong  strokz'j  fast.  431* 


MASPHAT.9     Now  set  on,  felouse,  wzt^t  mayne  &  myght, 
And  pluke  hys  armes  awey  in  hyght  !  10 
Wat  !  I  se  u  he  twycche,  felovse,  a-ryght  ! 
Alas,  balys  breweth  ryght  badde  ! 

i  MS.  ;  S.  doon.  25.  8  H.  proposes  rake. 

4  MS.  reme  ;  corr.  by  S.  6  H.  inserts  that. 

6  S.  prcstly  [1],  but  MS.  is  fairly  clear. 

7  S.  feleyn  [?]  ;  MS.  has  pleyn  with  an  elaborate  curl  and  stroke  over 
n  ;  H.  proposes  sely  sweyn. 

8  The  line  numbering  in  S.  is  wrong  from  here  on  ;  six  lines  are  twice 
numbered  as  five. 

9  MS.  Malspas  ;  corr.  by  S.  1°  S.  fyght  ;  possibly  sight  was  intended. 
11  S.  reads  yse,  and  suggests  yfe. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT.         259 

Here  skalfe  thay  pluke  the  arme,  &  th*  hand  shalfe  fang*  sty  lie  wi/h  th* 
Sacrament. 

MALCHUS.2     Alas,  alas,  what  deuyll  ys  thys? 
Now  hat[h]  3  he  but  oon  hand,  i-wyse  ! 
ffor  sothe,  mayster,  ryght  woo  me  is 

Thai  ye  this  harme  hawe  hadde.  439 

JONATHAS.     Ther  ys  no  more  ;  I  must  enduer  ! 

Now  hastely  to  ow^r  chamber  lete  us  go[n], 
Tylk  I  may  get  me  sum  recuer  ; 

And  ther-for  [I]  charge  yow  euery-choon 

That  yt  be  conselk?  that  we  haue  doon.  444 

[They  go  out.} 
Here  shalte  the  lechys  man  come  into  the  place  sayng  : 

COLLE.     Aha  !  here  ys  a  fayer  felawshyppe, 
Thewh*  I  be  nat  shapyn,4  [yn]  I  lyst  to  sleppe. 
I  haue  a  master  I  wolld  he  had  the  pyppe, 

I  tell  yow  \n  consel. 
He  ys  a  ma«  off  all<?  syence, 
But  off  thryfte  —  I  may  wz't^  yow  dyspe«ce  ! 
He  syttyth  5  wz't^  sum  tapstere  in  the.  spence  ; 

Hys  hoode  there  wyll  he  selk.  452 

Mayster  Brendyche  of  Braban, 
I  tell<?  yow  he  ys  that  same  ma«, 
Called  the.  most  famous  phesy[cy]an  3 

That  euer  sawe  vryne. 
He  seeth  as  wele  at  noone  as  at  nyght,     . 
And  suwtyme  by  a  candelleyt 
Can  gyff  a  judgyment 6  aryght 

As  he  that  hathe  noon  7  eyn.  460 

1  MS.  sang ;   emend,  by  S. ;  his  proposal  of  hang   (in    Glossary)  can 
derive  no  support  from  "  a-fingred/or  ahungered." 

2  Wanting  in  MS.;  S.  fives  [Malchas].  3  S. 

*  S.  Sh[]pynp,  the  reading  adopted  was  suggested  by  Dr.  F.  N.  Robinson. 

«  MS.  sytthyt;  corr.  by  S. 

6  MS.  Judyyment ;  corr.  by  S. 

'  MS.  nood,  which  S.  thinks  may  mean  use  [of]. 


26O        THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

He  ys  ail-so  a  boone-setter,  — 
I  knowe  no  man  go  the  better  ; 
In  euery  tau^rne  he  ys  detter, 

Yt  ys  a  good  tokenyng. 
But  eu^r  I  wonder  he  ys  so  long  ; 
I  fere  ther  gooth  sum-thyng  a- wrong, 
For  he  hath  dysa[rv]yde l  to  be  hong,  — 

Godsewd  nevu?r  warse  tydyng  !  468 

He  had  a  lady  late  in  cure  ; 
I  wot  be  th\s  she  ys  full  sure  ; 
There  shall?  neuer  Crysttn  creature 

Here  hyr  tell  no  tale. 
And  I  stode  here  tylle  mydnyght, 
1  cowde  not  declare  a-ryght 
My  masteris  cu«yng  in-syght 

That  he  hat[h]  2  in  good  ale.  476 

But 8  what  deuyll  ayleth  4  hym  so  long  to  tare  ? 

A  seekma«  myght  soone  myscary. 

Now  all?  the  deuyllys  of  hell  hym  wari !  — 

God  g[ra]nte  2  me  my  boon  ! 
I  trowe  best,  we  mak  a  crye  : 
Yf  any  maw  can  hym  8  aspye, 
Led  hym  to  //ze  pyller[ye].2 

In  fayth,  yt  shall  be  don.  484 

Here  shalle  he  stand  vp  &*  make  proclamation,  ftyng  tkyt : 

COLLE.     Yff  therbe  eyther  ma#  or  woma« 
That  sawe  Master  Bru«dyche  of  Braban, 
Or  owyht  of  hym  tel  can, 

Shall  wele  be  quit  hys  mede  ;  6  v 
He  hath  a  cut  berd  &  a  flatte  noose, 
A  therde-bare  gowne  &  a  rent  hoose  ; 
He  spekyt[h]  2  neuer  good  mater*?  nor  p«rpoose  ;  — 

To  the.  pyllere  ye  hym  led[e].2  492 

1  H.  3  S.  By.  6  MS.  I ;  emend,  by  S. 

2S.  <S.  dyleth.  6  MS.  mew  ;  corr.  by  S. 


THE    PLAY    OF    THE    SACRAMENT.  26 1 

[The  master  has  entered  during  the  Proclamation^ 

MASTER  BRUNDYCHE.     What,  thu  boye,  what  janglest  here  ? 
COLL.     A  !  master,  master,  but  to  your  reiurrence  ! 
I  wend  neuer  to  a  seen  yowr  goodly  chere, 

Ye  tared  hens  so  long. 

MASTER  BRUNDYCHE.     What  hast  thow  sayd  in  my  absense  ? 
COLL.     Nothyng,  master,  but  to  yowr  reu^rence, 
I  haue  told  all  Mis  audiense, 

And  some  lyes  among.  500 

But,  master,  I  pray  yow,  how  dothe  yowr  pa[c]yent1 

That  ye  had  last  vnder  yowr  medycamente? 

MASTER  BRUNDYCHE.     I  warant  she  neu<?r  fele  a-noyment.2 

COLL.     Why,  ys  she  in  hyr  graue  ? 
MASTER  BRUNDYCHE.     I  haue  gyven  hyr  a  drynke  made  full 

well 

Wyth  scamoly  and  w/t^  oxennell,8 
Letwyce,  sawge  and  pympernelle. 

COLL.     Nay,  than  she  ys  full*?  saue.  508 

ffor,  now  ye  ar  cum,  I  dare  welte  saye 
Betwyn  Douyr  &  Calyce  the  ryght  wey 
Dwellth  non  so  cu«nyng,  be  my  fey, 

In  my  judgyment. 
MASTER  BRUNDYCHE.     Cu«nyng?     Yea,  yea  ;  &  w/tA  prat- 

tise 

I  haue  sauid  many  a  manys  lyfe. 
COLLE.     On  wydowes,  maydese  and  wy[v]se  l 

Yowr  connyng  yow  haue  nyh^  spent.  516 

MASTER  BRUNDYCHE.     Were  ys  bowgtt  w/t^  4  drynke  profyt- 

able. 
COLL.     Here,  master,  master,  ware  how  ye  tugg ! 

IS. 

2  S.  gives  MS.  as  a  noynment;  my  collation  shows  a  noyntment. 
8  S.  emends  to  oxymell. 

•*  S.  emends  to  browghtt  that,  but,  as  the  stanza  (or  rather,  fragment) 
is  unintelligible  to  me,  I  give  the  readings  of  MS. 


262         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

The  devylh?,  I  trowe,  w/tA-in  shrugge, 

For  yt  gooth  rebylk-rable.  520 

MASTER  BRUNDYCHE.     Here  ys  a  grete  congregacyon, 

And  alle  benot  hole,  w/t^out  negacyon. 

I  wold  haue  certyfycacyon  ; 

Stond  vp  &  make  a  proclamation. 

Haue  do  faste,1  and  mak  no  pausa[c]yon,2 

But  wyghtly  mak  a  declaration 

To  alk  people  thai  helpe  w[o]lde2  haue.  527 

Sic  interim  3  proclamacionent  faciet. 

COLL.     All  manar  off  me«  thai  haue  any  syknes, 

To  Master  Brentberecly  1'oke  thai  yow  re-dresse. 

What  dysease  or  syknesse  thai  euer  ye  haue, 

He  wyll  neu^r  leue  yow  tylle  ye  be  in  yow[r]  2  graue. 

Who  hat[h]  2  Me  canker,  the  collyke,  or  Me  laxe, 

The  tercyan,  Me  quartans,  or  Me  brynny[n]g  2  axs,  — 

ffor  wormys,  for  gnawywg,  gryndy[n]g2  in  Me  wombe  or  i» 

Me  boldyro,  — 

Alle  maner  red  eyn<?,  bleryd  eyn,  &  the  rnyegrym  also, 
For  hedache,  bonache,  &  therto  Me  tothache,  — 
The  colt-euyll,4  &  the  brostyn  men  he  wyll  undertak, 
All  tho  thai  [haue]  2  the  poose,  Me  sneke,  or  Me  tyseke,  — 
Thowh5  a  man  w[e]re2  ryght  heyle,  he  cowd  soone  make 

hym  seke. 

Inquyre  to  Me  Colkote,  for  ther  ys  hys  loggyng, 
A  lytylL?  be-syde  Babwelk  Mylk,  yf  ye  wyll  haue  und[er]- 

sto«dyng.2  541 

MASTER  BRUNDYCHE.    Now,  yff  therbe  ether  ma«  or  woman 
That  nedethe  helpe  of  a  phesyscion  —  6 
COLL.     Mary,  master,  thai  I  tell  can, 
And  ye  wyll  vnderstond. 

l  S.  dofaste ;  corr.  by  H.  2  S. 

8  S.  gives  this  reading  -with  a  query  ;  there  is  no  comment  in  my  collation. 

4  S.  Coltugll  [?] ;  emend,  by  New  Eng.  Diet. 

5  MS. ;  S.  Thowgh.  6  MS. ;  S.  phesyscian. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT.         263 

MASTER  BRUNDYCHE.     Knoest  any  abut  Mis  plase  ? 
COLL.     Ye,  thai  I  do,  master,  so  haue  [I]  l  grase  ; 
Here  ys  a  Jewe,  hyght  Jonathas, 

Hath  lost  hys  ryght  bond.  549 

MASTER  BRUNDYCHE:     ffast  to  hym  I  wold  inquere. 
COLL.     ffor  God,  master,  the.  gate  ys  here.2 
MASTER  BRUNDYCHE.     Than  to  hym  I  wylk  go  nere. 

{Approaches  thejews^ 

My  master,  wele  mot  yow  be  ! 
JONATHAS.     What   doost  here,  felawe  ?   what   woldest   thu 

hanne  ? 
MASTER  BRUNDYCHE.     Syr,  yf  yow  nede  ony  surgeon  or 

physycyan, 
Off  yow[r]  8  dyse[se]  3  help  yow  welle  I  cane, 

What  haftz'j  or  hermes  *  so-euer  they  be.  557 

JONATHAS.     Syr,  thu  art  ontawght  to  come  in  thus  [on-]henly* 
Or  to  pere  in  my  presence  thus  malep^rtly. 
Voydeth  6  from  my  syght,  &  thai  wyghtly, 

ffor  ye  be  mysse-a-vysed. 

COLL.     Syr,  the  hurt  of  yowr  hand  ys  knowen  full*  ryfe, 
And  my  master  haue 7  sauyd  many  a  manes  lyfe. 
JONATHAS.     I  trowe  ye  be  cum  to  make  sum  stryfe. 

Hens  fast,  lest  thai  ye  be  chastysed.  565 

COLL.     Syr,  ye  know  welle  yt  can  nott  mysse, 

Men  that  be  masters  of  scyens  be  pr^fytable. 

In  a  pott  yf  yt  please  yow  to  pysse, 
He  can  ielle  yf  yow  be  curable. 
[JONATHAS.]  8  Avoyde,  fealows,  I  loue  not  yow^r  bable  ! 

1  S.  [yow] ;  H.  suggests  so  haue  [I]  grase,  or  saue  yowr  grase. 

^  S.  for  MS.  hyre. 

»S. 

4  S.for  MS.  hermet. 

6  S. ;  H.  retains  henly  regarding  it  as  heanlfce. 
*  S.  for  MS.  voydoth. 

7  H.  reads  hath.  8  Supp.  by  S. 


264         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

Brushe  them  hens  bothe,  &  that  anon  ! 

Gyff  them  ther  reward  thai  they  were  gone  !  572 

Here  shalfe  th^  iiij  Jewys  belt  a-way  the  lecht  <5r»  hys  matt. 

JONATHAS.     Now  haue  don,  felawys,  &  that  anon, 

For  dowte  of  drede  what  after  befalls  ! 
I  am  nere  masyd,  my  wytt?  ys  gon  ; 

Therfor  of  helpe  I  pray  yow  alk.  576 

And  take  yowr  pynsonys  thai  ar  so  sure, 

And  pluck  owt  the  naylys  won  &  won  ; 
Also  in  a  clothe  ye  yt  cure 

And  throw  yt  in  the  cawdron,  &  thai  anon.  580 

Here  shalfe  Jason  pluck  owt  the  naylys  &*  shake  the  hand  in-to  the  cawdron. 

JASON.     And  I  shall?  rape  me  redely  anon 

To  plucke  owt  the  naylys  that  stond  so  fast, 
And  bear  thys  bred  &  also  thys  bone 

And  in-to  the  cawdron  I  wyll<?  yt  cast.  584 

JASDON.     And  I  shalk  viiih  thys  dagger  so  stowte 

Putt  yt  down  that  yt  myght  plawe, 
Andsteare  the  clothe  rounde  abowte 

That  no-thyng  ther-of  shalbe  rawe.  588 

MASPHAT.     And  I  shalte  manly,  \\iih  all*  my  myght, 

Make  the  fyre  to  blase  &  brenne, 
And  sett  ther-vnder  suche  a  lyght 

That  yt  shall?  make  yt  ryght  thynne. 

Here  skalfe  th*  ca-wdron  b\o]yle,1  apperyng  to  be  as  blood. 

MALCHAS.     Owt !  &  harow  !  what  deuylk?  ys  here-in  ? 
Alk  thys  oyle  waxyth  redde  as  blood, 

And  owt  of  the  cawdron  yt  begynwyth  to  rinn.2 
I  am  so  aferd  I  am  nere  woode.  596 

1  S.  2  MS.  run  or  rnn  ;  corr.  by  S. 


THE    PLAY    OF    THE    SACRAMENT.  265 

Here  shalfe  Jason  <&»  hys  compeny  goo  to  serJonatAas  sayng: 

JASON.     Ah  !  master,  master,  what  there  ys  wzt^  yow, 

I  can  not  see  owr  werke  wyll  avayle  ; 
I  beseche  yow  avance  yow  now 

Sum-whatt  w/t^  yowr  counsayle.  600 

JONATHAS.     The  best  counsayle  that  I  now  wott, 

That l  I  can  deme,  farre  &  nere, 
[Ys]  2  to  make  an  ovyn  as  redd  hott 

As  euer  yt  can  be  made  w/th  fere  ; 

And  when  ye  see  yt  soo  hott  appere, 
Then  throw  yt  in-to  the  ovyn  fast,  — 

Sone  shalte  he  stanche  hys  bledyng  chere,  — 
When  ye  haue  done,  stoppe  yt,  —  be  not  agast  !  608 

JASDON.     Be  my  fayth,  yt  shalbe  wrowgh[t], 

And that  anon,  in  gret  hast. 
Bryng  on  fyryng,  sen's  ;  here  3  ye  nowght  ? 

To  hete  thys  ovyn  be  nott  agast  !  612 

MASPHAT.     Here  ys  straw  &  thornys  kene  ; 

Com<? 4  on,  Malchas,  &  bryng  on  fyre, 
ffor  that  shall  hete  yt  welh?,  I  wene  ; 

Here  thei  kyndylk  the  fyre. 

Blow  on  fast,  that  done  yt  were  ! 

MALCHAS.     Ah,  how  !  thys  fyre  gynnyth  to  brenne  clere  ! 
Thys  ovyn  ryght  hotte  I  thynk  to  make. 

Now,  Jason,  to  the  cawdron  5  that  ye  stere 
And  fast  fetche  hether  that  ylke  cake  !  620 

Here  shalk  Jason  goo  to  the  cawdron  &*  take  owtthe  Osiitnth  hys  pyn sonys 
&  cast  yt  in-to  the  ovyn. 

JASON.     I  shalk  w/'t/z  thes  pynsonys,  wzt^-owt  dowt, 
Shake  thys  cake  owt  of  thys  clothe, 

1  MS.  ys  that ;  S.  [and]  that;  cf.  next  note. 

2  Supplied  by  S. ;  but  the  scribe  merely  -wrote  it  in  the  -wrong  line, 
8  S.  emends  to  fere ;  but,  as  H.  faints  out,  MS.  is  correct. 

*  S.  collar;  corr.  by  Kittredge.  6  3.  inserts  [see]. 


266         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

And  to  the  ovyn  I  shall  yt  rowte 

And  stoppe  hym  there,  thow  he  be  loth. 

Thys  cake  I  haue  cawght  here,  in  good  sothe,  — 
The  hand  ys  soden,  the  fleshe  from  the  bonys,  — 

Now  in-to  the  ovyn  I  wyll  ther-wz't#. 
Stoppe  yt,  Jasdon,  for  the  nonys  !  628 

JASDON.     I  stoppe  thys  ovyn,  wythowtyn  dowte, 

With  clay  I  clome  yt  vppe  ryght  fast, 
That  non  heat  shall  cum  l  owte. 

I  trow  there  shalte  he  hete  &  drye  in  hast !  632 

Here  the  enuyn  must  ryve  asunder,  &"  blede  mvt  at  th*  cranys,  &*  an  image 
appere  owt  •with  -wound\&  bledyng. 

MASPHAT.     Owt !  owt !  here  is  a  grete  wonder  ! 

Thys  ovyn  b[l]edyth  owt  on  eu^ry  syde  ! 
MALCHAS.       Yea,   tht   ovyn   on   peacys    gynnyth   to   ryve 
asundre  ; 

Thys  ys  a  nwvelows  case  thys  tyde  !  636 

Here  shalk  the  image  speke  to  thejuys  sayng  thus : 

JHESUS.     O  mirabiles  Judei,  attendite  et  -videte 

Si  est  dolor  similis  2  dolor  meus  /  638 

Oh  ye  merveylows  Jewys, 

Why  ar  ye  to  yow^r  kyng  onkynd, 
And  3  so  bytterly  bowt  yow  to  my  blysse  ? 

Why  fare  ye  thus  fule  w/t^  yowr  frende  ? 

Why  peyne  yow  me  &  straytly  me  pynde,4 
And  I  yow^r  loue  so  derely  haue  bowght  ? 

Why  are  ye  so  vnstedfast  in  yo«r  mynde  ? 
Why  wrath  ye  me  ?  I  greve  yow  nowght.  646 

Why  wyll<?  ye  nott  beleue  that  I  haue  tawght, 

And  forsake  yowr  fowle  neclygence, 
And  kepe  my  comwandementw  in  yow^r  thowght, 

And  vnto  my  godhed  to  take  credence?  650 

1  S.  inserts  ther.  8  H.  inserts  I. 

%  Probably  a  careless  mistake  for  sicut.          4  H.  -wishes  to  read  bynde. 


THE    PLAY    OF    THE    SACRAMENT.  267 

Why  blaspheme  yow  me  ?  Why  do  ye  thus  ? 

Why  put  yow  me  to  a  newe  tormentry, 
And  I  dyed  for  yow  on  the  crosse  ? 

Why  consyder  not  yow  what  I  dyd  crye  ? 

Whylle  that  I  was  wzt#  yow,  ye  ded  me  velanye. 
Why  remember  ye  nott  my  bitter  chaunce, 
How  yow^r  kynne  dyd  me  awance 
ffor  claymyng  of  myn  enherytaunce  ? 
I  shew  yow  the  streytnesse  of  my  greuance, 

And  a.lle  to  meue  yow  to  my  mercy.  660 

JONATHAS.      Tu  es  protector  vite  mee  ;  a  quo  trepidabo? 

0  thu,  Lord,  whyche  art  my  defendowr, 
ffor  dred  of  the  I  trymble  &  quake. 

Of  thy  gret  mercy  lett  vs  receyue  1  the  showre  ; 

And  mekely  I  aske  mercy,  ame/zdys  to  make.  665 

Here  shall  they  knele  down  alls  on  ther  kneys,  sayng  : 

JASON.     Ah  !  Lord,  w/t#  sorow  &  care  &  grete  wepyng 

AIL?  we  felawys  lett  vs  saye  thus, 
W/t^  condolent  harte  &  grete  sorowyng  : 

Lacrimis  nostris  conscienciam  nostram  baptizemus  !       669 

JASDON.     Oh  thow  blyssyd  Lord  of  mykylk  myght, 
Of  thy  gret  mercy,  thow  hast  shewyd  vs  the  path, 

Lord,  owt  of  grevous  slepe  &  owt  of  dyrknes  to  lyght, 

Ne  grauis  sompnus  irruat.  673 

MASPHAT.     Oh  Lord,  I  was  very  cursyd,  for  I  wold  know 
th\  crede. 

1  can  no  men[d]ys  2  make,  but  crye  to  the  thus  : 
O  gracyows  3  Lorde,  forgyfe  me  my  mysdede  ! 

lamentable  hart  :  miserere  mei^  Deus  !  677 


MALCHAS.     Lord,   I  haue  offendyd  the  in  many  a  sundry 

vyse, 
That  styckyth  at  my  hart  as  hard  as  a  core. 

i  MS.  ;  S.  receue.  2  S.  8  MS.  ;  S.  gracyous. 


268         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

Lord,  by  the  water  of  contryc[i]on  lett  me  aryse  : 

Asparges  me,  Dornine,  ysopo,  et  mundabor.  681 

JHESUS.     All  ye  that  desyryn  my  seruantw  for  to  be 

And  to  fulfylh?  the  preceptw  of  my  lawys, 
The  intent  of  my  cowmandeme«t  knowe  ye  : 

Ite  et  ostendite  -vos  sacerdotibus  mezs. 

To  all  yow  tha\.  desyre  in  eny  wyse 
To  aske  mercy,  to  grau«t  yt  redy  I  am. 

Remember  &  lett  yowv?r  wyttts  stiff yce, 
Et  tune  non  auertam  a  vobis  faciem  meam.  689 

1  Jonathas,  on  thyn  hand  thow  art  but  lame, 

And  //zz's  2  thorow  thyn  own  cruelnesse. 
ffor  thyn  hurt 3  tho\\.  mayest  />£i-selfe  blame, 

Thow  woldyst  preve  thy  powr  me  to  oppresse  ; 

But  now  I  consydre  thy  necesse ; 
Thow  wasshest  thyn  hart  w/t^  grete4  contryc[i]on  ; 

Go  to  the  cawdron,  — th\  care  shalbe  the  lesse, — 
And  towche  thyn  hand  to  thy  saluac[i]on.  697 

Here  shall  rer  Jonathas  put  Ays  hand  in-to  the  cawdron,  and  yt  shalbe 
hole  agayn  ;  &  then  say  as  fo\lo\wyth : 8 

JONATHAS.     Oh  thow  my  Lord  God  &  Sauyow<?r,  osanna  ! 

Thow  Kyng  of  Jewys  &  of  Jerusalem! 
O  thow  myghty,  strong  Lyon  of  luda,6 

Blyssyd  be  the  tyme  thai  thou.  were  7  in  Bedlem  .' 

Oh  thovi  myghty,  strong,  gloryows   &  gracyows   Oyle- 

streme, 
Thow  myghty  Conquerrowr  of  infernalk  tene, 

I  am  quyt  of  moche  combrance  thorowgh  thy  meane, 
That  euer  blyssyd  mott  tho\i  bene  !  705 

Alas  tha\.  euer  I  dyd  agaynst  thy  wylk, 
In  my  wytt  to  be  soo  wood 

1  Before  Jonathas,  S.  has  .  .  ,  the  meaning  of  -which  is  not  explained. 

2  MS.  ys;  S.  [thys]  ys.  63. 

«  MS. ;  S.  hart.  6  MS. ;  S.  Jwda. 

4  MS. ;  S.  gret.  7  Qy.  insert  born. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT.         269 

That  I  with 1  ongoodly  wyrk  shuld  soo  gryll ! 

A^ens  my  mysgou^rnaunce  thow  gladdyst  me  w/t^  good  : 
I  was  soo  prowde  to  prove  the  on  th&  roode, 

And  thou  haste  sent  me  lyghtyng  tha\.  late  was  lame  ; 
To  bete  the  &  boyle  the  I  was  myghty  in  moode, 

And  now  thou.  hast  put  me  from  duresse  and  dysfame.  713 

But,  Lord,  I  take  my  leve  at  thy  hygh  presens 

And  put  me  in  thy  myghty  mercy. 
The  bysshoppe  wyll  I  goo  fetche  to  se  ow^r  offens, 

And  onto  hym  shew  ow^r  lyfe,  how  that  we  be  gylty.        717 

Here  shall  the  master  Jew  goo"*  to  the  byshopp,  &1  hys  men  knele  styll. 

JONATHAS.     Hayle,  father  of  grace  !     I  knele  vpon  my  knee 

Hertely  besechyng  yow  &  interely 
A  swemfulk  syght  all<?  for  to  see 

In  my  howse  apperyng  verely  : 

The  holy  Sacrament,3  the  whyche  we   haue  done  tor- 

me«try 
A ndther  we  haue  putt  hym  to  a  newe  passyon, 

A  chyld  apperyng  -with  wondys  blody  : 
A  swemfulL?  syght  yt  ys  to  looke  vpon.  725 

EPISCOPUS.     Oh  Jhtf.ru,  Lord,  fulte  of  goodnesse  ! 

WM  the  wylk  I  walke  wzt#  all<?  my  myght 
Now,  alltf  my  pepulL?,  wzt^  me  ye  dresse 

ffor  to  goe  see  that  swymfulk  syght.  729 

Now,  alk  ye  peple  that  here  are, 

I  cowzmande  yow,  euery  man, 
On  yow^r  feet  for  to  goo,  bare, 

In  the  devoutest  wyse  that  ye  can.  733 

Here  shalle.  the  bysshope  enter  into  thejewys  howse  &»  say: 

O  Jhesufili  Dei, 

How  thys  paynfulltf  passyon  ranch eth  my«  hart  ! 
Lord,  I  crye  to  the,  miserere  mei, 

l  MS.  So ;  corr.  by  S.  2  MS. ;  S.  go.  8  5.  inserts  [to]. 


2/O         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

ffrom  thys  rufulk  syght  tho-u.  wylt  reu^rte. 

Lord,  we  all?  wz't/J  sorowys  smert 
ffor  thys  vnlefulk  work  we  lyue  in  langow^r  ; 

Now,  good  Lord,  in  thy  grace  let  vs  be  gertt,1 
And  si  thy  sou<?reyn  marcy  send  vs  thy  socow^r  ;  7>i 

And  for  thy  holy  grace  forgyfe  vs  ow^r  errowr. 

Now  lett  thy  pete  spryng  &  sprede  ; 
Thowgh  we  haue  be  vnrygh[t]full<?,2  forgyf  vs  o?*r  rygore, 

And  of    ow<?r   lamentable    hartzs,    good    Lord,   take 

hed[e].2  745 

Here  shalfe  the  i»i[a\ge  2  change  agayn  on-to  brede, 

Oh  thu  largyfluent  Lord,  most  of  lyghtnesse, 

On-to  owr  prayers  thow  hast  applyed  ; 
Thu  hast  receyued  them  w/t//  grett  swettnesse, 

ffor  all*  ow<?r  dredfulL?  dedys  t/w\i  hast  not  vs  denyed. 

ffulltf  mykylk  owte  thy  name  for  to  be  magnyfyed 
W/t/J  mawsuete  myrth  and  gret  swettnes, 

And  as  owr  gracyows  God  for  to  be  gloryfyed, 
ffor  thu  shewyst  vs  gret  gladnes.  753 

Now  wyll*  I  take  thys  holy  Sacrament 

W/t^  humble  hart  &  gret  devoc[i]on, 
And  alk  we  \\y\\e  gon  \vtl/i  on  consent 

And  bear  yt  to  chyrche  w/t/z  sole[m]pne  2  pr<7cessyon ; 

Now  folow  me,  all^  &  sume  ! 
And  all*  tho  that  bene  here,  both  more  &  lesse, 

Thys  holy  song,  O  sacrum  8  Dominum, 
Lett  vs  syng  all  \\i\Jt  grett  swetnesse.  761 

Here  shalfe  the  firyst,  jer  Isoder,  aske  Ays  ;«aster  what  this  menyth. 

[PRESBITER.]  2     Ser  Arystory,  I  pray  yow,  what  menyth  all^ 

thys  ? 
Sum  myracle,  I  hope,  ys  wrowght  be  Goddrr  myght  ; 

l  MS.  grett ;  corr.  by  S.  2  S.  8  MS.  scacrum ;  corr.  by  S. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT.         2/1 

The  bysshope  co#zmyth  [in]  J  processyon  with  a  gret  meny 
of  Jewys  ; 

I  hope  sum  myracle  ys  shewyd  to  hys  syght. 

To  chyrche  in  hast  wylk  I  run«e  full  ryght, 
ffor  thether,  me  thynk,  he  begynnyth  to  take  hys  pace. 

The  Sacrame«t  so  semly  is  borne  in  syght, 
I  hope  that  God  hath  shewyd  of  hys  grace.  769 

ARYSTORIUS.     To  tell  yow  the  trowth  I  wyll*  nott  lett : 

Alas  that  euer  thys  dede  was  dyght ! 
An  onlefulk  bargayn  [I]  *  began  for  to  beat ; 

I  sold  yon  same  Jewys  ow<?r  Lord  iulle  ryght 

For  couytyse  of  good  as  a  cursyd  wyght. 
Woo  the  whyle  that  bargayn  I  dyd  euer  make ! 

But  yow  be  my  defensour  in  owr  dyocesans  syght, 
ffor  an  heretyke  I  feare  he  wyll^  me  take.  777 

PRESBITER.     ffor  sothe,  nothyng  wellavysed  was  your  wytt, — 
Wondrely  was  yt  wrowght  of  a  man  of  dyscresc[i]on 

In  suche  p^rayle  your  solle  for  to  putt ; 

But  I  wyll<?  labor  for  your  absolucyon.  781 

Lett  vs  hye  vs  fast  that  we  were  hens, 

And  beseche  hym  of  hys  benygne  grace 
That  he  wyll?  shew  vs  hys  benyvolens 

To  make  a-mendys  3  for  yower  trespas.  785 

Here  shall  the  merchant  &=  hys  prest  go  to  the  chyrche  &  the  bysshop  shalle. 
entre*  the  chyrche  &>  lay  the  Os[f] l  u[p}on'i  the  auter,  sayng  thus : 

[EPISCOPUS.]     Estate  fortes  in  bello  et  pugnate  cum5  antico 

serpente, 

Et  accipite  regnum  eternum,  et  cetera. 
My  chyldern,  be  ye  6  strong  in  bataylk  gostly 

For  to  fyght  agayn  the  fell  serpent, 
That  nyght  and  day  ys  euer  besy  ; 

To  dystroy  owr  sollys  ys  hys  intent. 

IS.  3  S.  a  menyn.  6  MS.  co  ;  corr.  by  S 

2  H.  4  MS. ;  S.  enter.  *  MS.  ye  be ;  corr.  by  S. 


272         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

Look  ye  be  not  slow  nor  neclygent 
To  arme  yow  in  the  vertues  seuyn  ; 

Of  synnys  forgetyn  l  take  good  avysement 
And  knowlege  them  to  yowr  confessor  full*  euyn ;  795 

ffor  that  serpent,  the  deuylL?,  ys  fulh?  strong 

Meruelows  myscheves  2  for  man  to  mene, 
But  that  the  Passyon  of  Cryst  ys  meynt  vs  among, 

And  that  ys  in  dyspyte  of  hys  infernally  tene. 

Beseche  ow^r  Lord  &  Sauyow<?r  so  kene 
To  put  doun  that  serpent,  cuwberer  of  man, 

To  wzt//draw  hys  furyous  froward  doctryn  by-dene, 
ffulfyllyd  of  the.  fend  callyd  Leuyathan.  803 

Gyff  lawrehV  to  that  Lord  of  myght 

That  he  may  bryng  vs  to  the  joyous  fruyc[i]on 

ffrom  8  vs  to  put  the  fend  to  flyght, 

That  neu^r  he  dystroy  vs  by  hys  temptac[i]on.  807 

PRESBITER.     My  ffather  vnder  God,  I  knele  vnto  yow<?r  kne, 
In  yowr  myhty  mys<?ncord  to  tak  vs  in  remembrance ; 

As  ye  be  materyall  to  owr  degre, 

We  put  vs  in  yow<?r  moderat  ordynance, 

Yff  yt  lyke  yow<?r  hyghnes  to  here  ow^r  greuau«ce  ; 

We  haue  offenddyd  sorowfully  in  a  syn  mortally, 

Wherfor  we  fere  vs  owr  Lord  wylk  take  vengaunce 

ffor  owr  synnes  both  grete  and  small<?.  815 

EPISCOPUS.     And  in  fatherhed,  that  longyth  to  my  dygnyte, 

Vn-to  yow^r  grefe  I  wyll?  gyf  credens. 
Say  vjhat  ye  wylte,  in  ///e  name  of  the  Trynyte, 

Agayn[s]t4  God  yf  ye  haue  wroght  eny  inco«uenyence.     819 

ARISTORIUS.     Holy  ffather,  I  knele  to  yow  vnder  benedycite. 

I  haue  offendyd  in  the  syn  of  couytys  ; 
I  sold  our  Lordys  body  for  lucre  of  mony 

And  delyu^ryd  to  the  wyckyd  wz't/z  cursyd  advyce. 

l  MS.  fog.  .  tyn  ;  S.  forgottyn.  »  MS.  ffonn ;  corr.  by  S. 

3  S.  myschevos.  4  S. 


THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT.         2/3 

And  for  that  pr^sumpc[i]on  gretly  I  agryse 
That  I  presumed  to  go  to  the  auter 

There  to  handylte  the.  holy  sacryfyce,  — 
I  were  worthy  to  be  putt  in  breny«g  fyre.  827 

But,  gracyous  lord,  I  can  no  more 

But  put  me  to  Goddys  mercy  &  to  yow^r  grace. 
My  cursyd  werkys  for  to  restore, 

I  aske  penaunce  now  in  thys  place.  831 

EPISCOPUS.     Now  for  thys  offence  that  thoM  hast  donne 
A^ens  the  Kyng  of  hevyn  &  Emperow^r  of  helk, 
whylk  thoM  lyuest  good  dedys  for  to  done 
And  neu^r-more  for  to  bye  nor  selk  ; 
Chastys  thy  body  as  I  shall  the  telL?, 

fastyng  &  prayng  &  other  good  wyrk, 
To  wztAstond  the  temtacyon  of  fendz'j  of  hell  ; 
And  io  calte  to  God  for  grace  looke  thovi  neu^r  be  irke.  839 


Also,  thoVi  preste,  for  thy  neclygens, 

That  thou  were  no  wyser  on  thyn  office, 
Thou  art  worthy  inpresu[n]ment  1  for  thyn  offence  ; 

But  beware  eu<?r  herafter  &  be  mor  wyse.  843 

And  alk  yow  creaturys  2  &  curatys  3  that  here  be, 

Off  thys  dede  yow  may  take  example 
How  that  yo»r  pyxys  lockyd  ye  shuld  see 

And  be  ware  of  the  key  of  Goddys  temple.  847 

JONATHAS.     And  I  aske  crystendom  with  great  devoc[i]on, 

With  repentant  hart  in  all  degrees. 
I  aske  for  vs  all  a  general!*?  absoluc[i]on, 

Here  tbejuys  must  knele  al  down. 

ffor  that  we  knele  all  vpon  ow<?r  knees  ;  85  1 

ffor  we  haue  greuyd  ow^r  Lord  on  grovnd 
And  put  hym  to  a  new  paynfulk?  passion, 

IS.  2  Qy.  vicarys  ;  or  prechorys,  cf.  above,  L  326. 

8  S.  proposes  curatys  wyth  creaturys. 


2/4         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

Wz't^  daggars  styckyd  hym  wtt/i  greuos  wo[u]nd^,1 

New  nay lyd  hym  to  a  post,  &  wz't#  pynsonys  pluckyd 

\\yrn  down.  855 

JASON.     And  syth  we  toke  that  blyssyd  Bred  so  sownd 

And  in  a  cawdron  we  dyd  hym  boyle, 
In  a  clothe  fulk  just  we  hym  wou«de 

And  so  dyd  we  seth  hym  in  oyle.  859 

JASDON.     And  for  that  we  myght  not 2  ou^rcom  hym  vritA 
tormentry, 

In  an  hott  ovyn  we  speryd  hym  fast. 
Ther  he  apperyd  with  wo[u]ndzj  all  bloody  ; 

The  ovyn  rave  asunder  &  all  to-brast.  863 

MASPHAT.     In  hys  law  to  make  vs  stedfast, 

There  spake  he  to  vs  woordz'j  of  grete  favor  ; 

In  contrycyon  owr  hart/j  he  cast 

And  bad  take  vs  to  a  confessor.  867 

MALCHUS.     And  therfor  all  we  wz't#  on  consent 

Knele  onto  yow^r  hygh  sou^reynte  ; 
ffor  to  be  crystenyd  ys  ow^r  intent, 

Now  all  ow^r  dedys  to  yow  shewyd  haue  we.  871 

Here  shall  th#  bysshoppe  crysten  \hejewys  itnth  gret  solempnyte, 

EPISCOPUS.     Now   the    Holy   Cost  at  thys  tyme  mot  yow 
blysse  8 

As  ye  knele  all*  now  in  hys  name, 
And  wz't^  the  water  of  baptyme  I  shall*?  yow  blysse8 

To  saue  yow  alk  from  the  fendis  blame. 

Now,  that  fendys  pown?  for  to  make  lame, 
In  the.  name  of  Me  Father,  thz  Son  &  the  Holy  Cost, 

To  saue  yow  from  the  deuyllys  flame, 
I  crysten  yow  all<?,  both  lest  &  most.  879 

is. 

2  S.  omits  not ;  but,  as  H.  points  out,  it  is  correct. 
*  H.  proposes  lysse  for  one  blysse. 


THE    PLAY    OF    THE    SACRAMENT.  2/5 

JONATHAS.     Now  owr  father  &  byshoppe  that  we  well* 
know, 

We  thank  yow  interly,  both  lest  &  most. 
Now  ar  we  bownd  to  kepe  Crystis  lawe 

And  to  s*rue  the  Father,  //ze  Son  &  the  Holy  Cost. 

Now  wyll*  we  walke  by  contre  &  cost, 
Owr  wyckyd  lyuy«g  for  to  restore  ; 

And  trust  in  God,  of  myghtz'j  most, 
Neuer  1  to  offend  as  we  have  don  before.2  887 

Now  we  take  ow*r  lea[v]e  3  at  lesse  &  more,  — 

Forward  on  ow*r  vyage  we  wyll*  vs  dresse  ; 
God  send  yow  all  as  good  welfare 

As  hart  can  thynke  or  towng  expresse.  891 

ARYSTORIUS.     In-  to  my  contre  now  wyll*  I  fare 

For  to  amende  myn  wyckyd  lyfe, 
And  to  kep[e]  8  thz  people  owt  of  care 

I  wyll  teach  e  thys  lesson  to  man  &  wyfe.  895 

Now  take  I  my  leave  in  thys  place,  — 

I  wyll*  go  walke,  my  penau«ce  to  fullfyll*  ; 
Now,  God,  a^ens  whom  I  haue  done  thys  trespas, 

Graunt  me  forgyf  nesse  [yf]  8  yt  be  thy  wyll*  !  899 

PRESBITER.     ffor  joy  of  thys  me  thynke  my  hart  do  wepe, 
That  yow  haue  gyuyn  yow  all*?  Crystis  s^ruauntw  to  be, 

Hym  for  to  s*rue  w/t/;  hart  full*  meke,  — 

God,  full*  of  pacyens  &  humylyte,  —  903 

And  the  conu*rsac[i]on  of  all*  thes  fayre  men, 

Wt't/i  hart/V  stedfastly  knett  in  on, 
Godd/j  lawys  to  kepe  &  hym  to  serue  by-dene, 

As  faythfull*  Crystyanys  eu*rmore  for  to  gon«e.  907. 

EPISCOPUS.     God  omnypotent  euermore  looke  ye  s*me 
deuoc[i]on  &  prayre  whyll*  thai  ye  may  ; 


MS.  npu°rer;  corr.  by  S.  3  MS.  befer;  corr.  by  S.  »  S. 


2/6         THE  PLAY  OF  THE  SACRAMENT. 

Dowt  yt  not  he  \vylle  yow  preserue 

ffor  eche  good  prayer  thai  ye  sey  to  hys  pay  ; 
.<4#*/ therfor  in  tuery  dew  tyme  loke  ye  nat  delay 

ffor  to  serue  the  Holy  Trynyte, 

And  also  Mary,  that  swete  may  ; 

And  kepe  yow  in  p^rfyte  loue  &  charyte.  915 

Crysii's  commandement/j   x   there  bee  ; 

Kepe  well*  them  ;  doo 1  as  I  yow  tell<?. 
Almyght  God  shall*  yow  please  in  eu*ry  degre, 

And  so  shall*  ye  saue  yow*r  sollys  from  hell*  ; 

ffor  there  ys  payn  &  sorow  cruelU?, 
And'm  heuyn  ther  ys  both  joy  &  blysse, 

More  then  eny  towng  can  tell, 
There  angellys  syng  w/t^  grett  swetnesse  ; —  923 

To  the  whyche  blysse  he  bryng  vs 

Whoys  name  ys  callyd  Jh*jus, 
And  in  wyrshyppe  of  thys  name  gloryows 

To  syng  to  hys  honor  Te  Deum  laudamus.  927 

FFINIS. 

Thus  endyth  the  Play  of  the  Blyssyd  Sacrament,  whyche 
myracle  was  don  in  the  forest  of  Aragon,  in  the  famous  cite 
Eraclea,  the  yere  of  ow*r  Lord  God.  M^ccc.lxi.,  to  whom  be 
honow*r,  Amen  ! 

The  namys  &  number  of  the  players  : 

Jh[es]us.2  Jason,  Judeus  ijus. 

Episcopus.  Jasdon,  Judeus  iijus. 

Aristorius,  christianus  mercator.  Masphat,  Judeus  iiij118, 

[Isoder,  presbiter.]  Malchus,  Judeus  v^*. 

Clericus.  Magister  phisicus. 

Jonathas,  Judeus  im«s.  CohV,  seruus. 

IX  may  play  yt  at  ease. 

R.  C. 
l  H.  proposes  too.  2  S. 


PART    III. 


ROBIN    HOOD    PLAYS. 


The  first  is  printed  from  a  copy  made  for  Professor  Child  by  Henry  Bradshaw, 
Esq.  The  original,  formerly  among  Sir  John  Fenn's  papers  and  now  the  property 
of  Dr.  W.  Aldis  Wright,  "  is  evidently,"  says  Dr.  Wright,  "the  last  leaf,  or  rather 
half  leaf,  of  a  folio  MS.  For  this  reason  it  is  clear  that  the  memoranda  [acknowl- 
edgments of  payments]  on  the  blank  page  are  later  in  date  than  the  writing  of  the 
ballad  [i.e.,  play]."  This  would  date  the  play  before  1475.  Besides  the  copy  by 
Bradshaw,  I  have  used  a  collation  made  by  Dr.  Wright.  The  play  was  first  cor- 
rectly printed  in  Child's  "  English  and  Scottish  Popular  Ballads,"  III,  90  f. 

The  second  and  third  are  really  two  plays,  though  printed  as  one  in  both  the  old 
editions  :  Copland's  (about  1550)  and  White's  of  1634.  They  are  printed  separately 
in  Child's  "English  and  Scottish  Popular  Ballads,"  III,  127  f.,  114  f.,  Boston 
[1888].  In  the  footnotes,  Co.  indicates  the  readings  of  Copland  as  given  in 
Ritson's  "  Robin  Hood,"  1795,  II,  199  ff. ;  R.  indicates  Ritson's  edition;  W.  indi- 
cates the  variants  of  White's  edition  as  given  by  Child. 


I. 

[ROBIN    HOOD    AND    THE    KNIGHT.] 
[Enter  a  Knight  to  the  Sheriff^ 

[KNYGHT.]     Syr  Sheryffe,  for  thy  sake 
Robyn  Hode  wull  Y  take. 

[SHERIFF.]     I  wyll  the  gyffe  golde  and  fee  ; 
This  be-heste  tho u  holde  me  ! 

[The  Knight  goes  to  Robyn  ffode.] 

[KNYGHT.]     Robyn  Hode,  fayre  l  and  fre,  5 

Vndre  this  lynde  shote  we  ! 

[ROBYN.]     With  the  shote  Y  wyll, 
Alle  thy  lustes  to  full-fyll. 

[They  shoot.} 

[KNYGHT.]     Have  at  the  pryke  ! 

[ROBYN.]     And  Y  cleue  the  styke.  10 

1  Wright,  ffayre. 


28O  ROBIN    HOOD    PLAYS. 

[KNYGHT.]     Late  vs  caste  the  stone. 
[ROBYN.]     I  graunte  well,  be  Seynt  John  ! 

[They  cast  the  stone ;  Robyn  is  again  successful.] 

[KNYGHT.]     Late  vs  caste  the  exaltre. 
r  ROBYN.]     Have  a  foote  be-fore  the ! 

[Then  they  wrestle.] 

Syr  knyght,  ye  haue  a  falle.  1 5 

[KNYGHT.]     And  I  the,  Robyn,  qwyte  shall  : 
Owte  on  the  !  I  blowe  myn  home. 

[ROBYN.]     Hit  ware  better  be  vnborne. 
Lat  vs  fyght  at  outtraunce. 

[KNYGHT.]     He  that  fleth,  God  gyfe  hym  myschaunce  !         20 

[Robyn  slays  the  Knight.] 

[ ROBYN.]     Now  I  haue  the  maystry  here. 
Off  I  smyte  this  sory  swyre  ; 
This  knyghtys  clothis  wolle  I  were, 
And  in  my  hode  his  hede  woll  bere. 

[He  disguises  himself.  Meantime  the  Sheriff  has  attacked  Robyn  Hade's 
men  and  a  fierce  battle  is  in  progress.  Robyn  meets  a  man  coming 
front  the  scene  of  the  battle.] 

[ROBYN.]     Welle  mete,  felowe  myn  !  25 

What  herst  thou.  of  gode  Robyn  ? 

[MAN.]     Robyn  Hode  and  his  menye 
W/tfc  the  Sheryff  takyn  be. 

[ROBYN.]     Sette  on  foote,  w/'t^  gode  wyll, 
And  the  Sheryffe  wull  we  kyll.  30 

[They  come  in  sight  of  the  battle.] 

[ROBYN.]     Be-holde  wele  ffrere  Tuke, 
Howe  he  dothe  his  bowe  pluke. 

[Oft  the  battle-field  the  Sheryff  speaks.] 

[SHERYFF.]     3eld  yow,  syrs,  to  the  Sheryff[e], 
Or  elles  shall  yo«r  bowes  clyffe  ! 

[ONE  OF  ROBYN'S  MEN.]     Now  we  be  bownden  alle  in 

same;  35 


ROBIN    HOOD    AND    THE    FRIAR.  28 1 

Frere  [Tjuke,1  tMs  is  no  game. 

[SHERYFF.]     Cc^mje1  thou.  forth,  thoM  fals  outiawe  : 
ThoM  shall  b[e]  l  hangyde  and  ydrawe  ! 

[FRERE  TUKE.]     Now,  alias  !  what  shall  we  doo? 
We  [mjoste  l  to  the  prysone  goo.  40 

[SHERYFF.]     Opy[n]  x  the  yatis  faste  anon, 
An[d]  1  [d]oo  2  theis  3  thevys  ynne  gon. 

[  The  part  of  the  play  in  which  Robyn  follows  his  men  and  finally  releaset 
them  is  missing.] 

II. 
[ROBIN    HOOD    AND   THE    FRIAR.] 

ROBYN  HODE.     Now  stand  ye  forth,  my  mery  men  all, 
And  harke  what  I  shall  say ; 
Of  an  adventure  I  shal  you  tell, 
The  which  befell  this  other  day. 

As  I  went  by  the  hygh-way,  5 

With  a  stout  frere  I  met, 
And  a  quarter-staffe  in  his  hande  ; 
Lyghtely  to  me  he  lept, 
And  styll  he  bade  me  stande. 

There  were  strypes  two  or  three,  10 

But  I  cannot  tell  who  had  the  worse, 
But  well  I  wote  the  horeson  lept  within  me, 
And  fro  me  he  4  toke  my  purse. 
Is  there  any  of  my  mery  men  all 

That  to  that 6  frere  wyll  go,  1 5 

And  bryng  hym  to  me  forth-withall, 
Whether  he  wyll  or  no? 

LYTELL  JOHN.     Yes,  mayster,  I  make  God  avowe, 
To  that  frere  wyll  I  go, 

And  bring  him  to  you,  20 

Whether  he  wyl  or  no. 

1  MS.  damaged. 

2  Bradshaw,  [d]oo ;    Wright  reads  [lajte,  and  says,  "  There  are  traces 
9/te."  8  Bradshaw,  theis  ;  Wright,  thois. 

*  W.  omits  he.  6  W.'the. 


282  ROBIN    HOOD    PLAYS.      . 

[Exeunt  omnes ;  enter  Fryer  Tucke,  with  three  dog's.'] 

FRYER  TUCKE.     Deus  hie  !  Deus  hie  !     God  be  here  ! 
Is  not  this  a  holy  worde  for1  a  frere  ? 
God  save  all  this  company  ! 

But  am  not  I  a  jolly  fryer  ?  25 

For  I  can  shote  both  farre  and  nere, 
And  handle  the  sworde  and  buckler, 
And  this  quarter-staffe  also. 
If  I  mete  with  a  gen ty  1m an  or  yeman, 

I  am  not  afrayde  to  loke  hym  upon,  30 

Nor  z  boldly  with  him  to  carpe  ; 
If  he  speake  any  wordes  to  me, 
He  shall  have  strypes  two  or  thre 
That  shal  make  his  body  smarte. 

But,  maisters,3  to  shew  you  the  matter  35 

Wherfore  and  why  I  am  come  hither, 
In  fayth,  I  wyll  not  spare  : 
I  am  come  to  seke  a  good  yeman, 
In  Bernisdale  men  sai  is  his  habitacion, 

His  name  is  Robyn  Hode  ;  40 

And  if  that 4  he  be  better  man  than  I, 
His  servaunt  wyll  I  be,  and  serve  him  truely; 
But  if  that  I  be  better 5  man  than  he, 
By  my  truth,  my  knave  shall  he  be 
And  leade  these  dogges  all  three.  45 

\_Robyn  enters  and  seizes  him  by  the  throat.] 

ROBYN  HODE.     Yelde  the,  fryer  in  thy  long  cote  ! 

FRYER  TUCKE.     I  beshrew  thy  hart,  knave,  thou  hurtest 
my  throt[e]. 

ROBYN  HODE.     I  trowe,  fryer,  thou  beginnest  to  dote  ! 
Who  made  the  so  malapert  and  so  bolde 

To  come  into  this  forest  here,  50 

Amonge  my  falowe-dere  ? 

1  W.  word  of.  *  W.  omits  that. 

2  W.  not.  5  W.  be  a  better. 
8  Co.  W.  maister ;  corr.  by  R. 


ROBIN    HOOD    AND    THE    FRIAR.  283 

FRYER.     Go  louse  the,  ragged  knave  ! 
If  thou  make  mani  wordes,  I  will  geve  the  on  the  eare, 
Though  I  be  but  a  poore  fryer. 

To  seke  Robyn  Hode  I  am  com  here,  55 

And  to  him  my  hart  to  breke. 

ROBYN  HODE.     Thou  lousy  frer,  what  wouldest  thou  with 

hym? 
He  never  loved  fryer,  nor  none  of  freiers  kyn. 

FRYER.     Avaunt,  ye  1  ragged  knave,    • 
Or  ye  shall  have  on  the  skynne  !  60 

ROBYN  HODE.     Of  all  the  men  in  the2  morning  thou  art 

the  worst ; 

To  mete  with  the  I  have  no  lust, 
For  he  that  meteth  a  frere  or  a  fox  in  the  morning, 
To  spede  ill 8  that  day  he  standeth  in  jeoperdy  : 
Therfore  I  had  lever  4  mete  with  the  devil  of  hell  —  6  65 

Fryer,  I  tell  the  as  I  thinke  — 
Then  mete  with  a  fryer  or  a  fox 
In  a  mornyng  or  I  drynk. 

FRYER.     Avaunt,  thou  ragged  knave  !  this  is  but  a  mock  ; 
If  thou  6  make  mani  words,  thou 6  shal  have  a  knock.  70 

ROBYN  HODE.     Harke,  frere,  what  I  say  here  : 
Over  this  water  thou  shalt  me  bere, 
The  brydge  is  borne  away. 

FRYER.     To  say  naye  I  wyll  not  ; 

To  let  the  of  thine  oth  it  were  great  pitie  and  sin  ;  75 

But  up  on  a  fryers  backe,  and  have  even  in  ! 

ROBYN  HODE.     Nay,  have  over  ! 

[Gets  on  the  Fryer's  back.'} 

FRYER.     Now  am  I,  frere,  within,  and  thou,  Robin,  with- 
out, 
To  lay  the  here  I  have  no  great  doubt. 

1  W.  omits  ye.  4  W.  rather. 

2  W.  a.  6  w.  omits  of  hell. 

«  Co.  elL  6  Co.  you ;  W.  yu ;  yu  shalt. 


284  ROBIN    HOOD    PLAYS. 

[Throws  him  into  the  stream.] 

Now  am  I,  frere,  without,  and  thou,  Robyn,  within  ! 1  80 

Lye  ther,  knave  !     Chose  whether  thou  wilte  sinke  2  or  swym. 

ROBYN  HODE.     Why,  thou  lowsy  frere  !  what  hast  thou 
done  ?  8 

FRYER.     Mary,  set  a  knave  over  the  shone. 

ROBYN  HODE.     Therfore  thou  shalt  abye. 

[Runs  at  the  Fryer] 

FRYER.     Why,  wylt  thou  fyght  a  plucke  ?  85 

ROBYN  HODE.     And  God  send  me  good  lucke  ! 
FRYER.     Than  have  a  stroke  for  Fryer  Tucke  ! 

\Theyfizht) 

ROBYN  HODE.     Holde  thy  hande,  frere,  and  here  me  speke  ! 

FRYER.     Say  on,  ragged  knave, 
Me  semeth  ye  begyn  to  swete.  90 

ROBYN  HODE.     In  this  forest  I  have  a  hounde, 
I  wyl  not  give  him  for  an  hundreth  pound  ; 
Geve  me  leve  my  home  to  blowe, 
That  my  hounde  may  knowe. 

FRYER.     Blowe  on,  ragged  knave,  without  any  doubte,  95 

Untyll  bothe  thyne  eyes  starte  out. 

[Robyn  blows  ;  his  men  enter.} 

Here  be4  a  sorte  of  ragged  knaves  come  in, 

Clothed  all  in  Kendale  grene, 

And  to  the  they  take  their  way  nowe. 

ROBYN  HODE.     Peradventure  they  do  so.  100 

FRYER.     I  gave  the  leve  to  blowe  at  thy  wyll, 
Now  give  me  leve  to  whistell  my  fyll. 

ROBYN  HODE.     Whystell,  frere,  evyl  mote  5  thou  fare  ! 
Untyll  bothe  thyne  eyes  stare.6 

1  Co.  W.  R.  Now  art  thou,  Robyn,  without,  and  I,  frere,  within ;  corr. 
by  Child.  4  w.  is. 

2  W.  choose  either  sinke.  5  might. 

8  Co.  donee.  «  Co.  starte. 


ROBIN  HOOD  AND  THE  POTTER.          285 

[The  Fryer  -whistles  ;  his  men  enter.] 

FRYER.     Now,  Cut  and  Bause  !  105 

Breng  forth  the  clubbes  and  staves, 
And  downe  with  those  ragged  knaves  ! 

\Theyfight) 

ROBYN  HODE.    How  sayest  thou,  frere  ?  wylt  thou  be  my 

man, 

To  do  me  the  best  servyse  thou  can  ? 

Thou  shalt  have  both  golde  and  f ee  ;  no 

And  also  here  is  a  lady  free, 
I  wyll  geve  her  unto  the, 
And  her  chapplayn  I  the  make 
To  serve  her  for  my  sake.  1 1 4 

FRYER.     Go  home,  ye  knaves,  and  lay  crabbes  in  the  fyre,  1 1 9 
For  my  lady  and  I  wil  daunce  in  the  myre, 
For  veri  pure  joye.1  1 20 

III. 

[ROBIN    HOOD   AND    THE    POTTER.] 

ROBYN  HODE.     Lysten  to  [me],2  my  mery  men  all,  121 

And  harke  what  I  shall  say  ; 
Of  an  adventure  I  shall  you  tell 
That  befell  this  other  daye. 

With  a  proude  potter  I  met,  125 

And  a  rose-garlande  on  his  head, 
The  floures  of  it  shone  marvaylous  freshe  ; 
This  seven  yere  and  more  he  hath  used  this  waye, 
Yet  was  he  never  so  curteyse  a  potter 

As  one  peny  passage  to  paye.  130 

Is  there  any  of  my  mery  men  all 
That  dare  be  so  bolde 
To  make  the  potter  paie  passage, 
Either  silver  or  golde  ? 

l  These  two  lines  as  one  in  R.  and  W.     /  have  omitted  four  lines  of  the 
Friar's  speech,  before  1.  119.  2  Supplied  by  R. ;  W.  omits  to,  also. 


286  ROBIN    HOOD    PLAYS. 

LYTELL  JOHN.     Not  I,  master,  for  twenty  pound  redy  tolde,   135 
For  there  is  not  among  us  al  one 
That  dare  medle  with  that  potter,  man  for  man. 
I  felt  his  handes  not  long  agone, 
But  I  had  lever  have  ben  here  by  the  ; 

Therfore  I  knowe  what  he  is.  140 

Mete  him  when  ye  wil,  or  mete  him  whan  ye  shal, 
He  is  as  propre  a  man  as  ever  you  medled  l  withal. 

ROBYN  HODE.     I  willlai  with  the,  Litel  John,  twenti  pound 

so  read, 

If  I  wyth  that  potter  mete, 
I  wil  make  him  pay  passage,  maugre  his  head.  145 

LETTEL  JOHN.     I  consente  therto,  so  eate  I  bread  .' 
If  he  pay  passage,  maugre  his  head, 
Twenti  pound  shall  ye  have  of  me  for  your  mede. 

[Exeunt  all  but  Robyn.     Enter  the  Potter's  Boy,  Jacket] 

JACKE.     Out,  alas,  that  ever  I  sawe  this  daye  ! 
For  I  am  clene  out  of  my  wave  150 

From  Notyngham  towne  ; 
If  I  hye  me  not  the  faster, 
Or  I  come  there  the  market2  wel  be  done. 

ROBYN   HODE.       Let  me  se,   are  the3  pottes  hole  and 
sounde  ? 

JACKE.  Yea,  meister,  but  they  will  not  breake  the  ground.    155 

ROBYN    HODE.     I  wil  them  breke,  for   the   cuckold   thi 

maisters  sake  ; 

And  if  they  will 4  breake  the  grounde, 
Thou  shalt  have  thre  pence  for  a  pound. 

[Dashes  the  pots  to  the  ground^ 

JACKE.     Out,  alas  !  what  have  ye  done? 
If  my  maister  come,  he  will  breke  your  crown.  160 

1  Co.  medle. 

2  Co.  maryet. 
8  W.  thy. 

<  Co.,  R.  will  not. 


ROBIN  HOOD  AND  THE  POTTER.         28/ 

[Enter  the  Potter. ,] 

THE  POTTER.     Why,  thou  horeson,  art  thou  here  yet  ? 
Thou  shouldest  have  bene  at  market. 

JACKE.     I  met  with  Robin  Hode,  a  good  yeman  ; 
He  hath  broken  my  pottes, 
And  called  you  kuckolde  by  your  name.  165 

THE  POTTER.  Thou  mayst  be  a  gentylman,  so  God  me  save, 
But  thou  semest  a  noughty  knave. 
Thou  callest  me  cuckolde  by  my  name, 
And  I  swere  by  God  and  Saynt  John, 

Wyfe  had  I  never  none  :  170 

This  cannot  I  denye. 
But  if  thou  be  a  good  felowe, 

I  wil  sel  mi  horse,  mi  harneis,  pottes  and  paniers  to, 
Thou  shalt  have  the  one  halfe,  and  I  will  have  the  other. 
If  thou  be  not  so  content,  175 

Thou  shalt  have  strypes,  if  thou  were  my  brother. 

ROBYN  HODE.     Harke,  potter,  what  I  shall  say  : 
This  seven  yere  and  more  thou  hast  used  this  way, 
Yet  were  thou  never  so  curteous  to  me 
As  one  penny  passage  to  paye.  1 80 

THE  POTTER.     Why  should  I  paye  passage  to  thee  ? 

ROBYN  HOODE.     For  I  am  Robyn  Hode,  chiefe  governoure 
Under  the  grene-woode  tree. 
THE  POTTER.     This  seven  yere  have  I  used  this  way  up  and 

downe, 

Yet  payed  I  passage  to  no  man,  185 

Nor  now  I  wyl  not  beginne,  to  l  do  the  worst  thou  can. 

ROBYN    HODE.     Passage  shalt  thou  pai  here   under  the 

grene-wode  tre, 
Or  els  thou  shalt  leve  a  wedde  2  with  me. 

THE  POTTER.     If  thou  be  a  good  felowe,  as  men  do  the  call, 
Lay  awaye  thy  bowe,  190 

And  take  thy  sword  and  buckeler  in  thy  hande, 
And  se  what  shall  befall. 

l  W.  omits  to :  R.  reads  so.  2  Co.  wedded ;  W.  wed  :  corr.  by  R. 


288  ROBIN    HOOD    PLAYS. 

ROBIN  HODE.     Lyttle  John,  where  art  thou? 

LYTTEL  [JOHN].1     Here,  mayster,  I  make  God  avowe. 
I  tolde  you,  mayster,  so  God  me  save,  195 

That  you  2  shoulde  fynde  the  potter  a  knave. 
Holde  your  buckeler  faste  in  your  hande, 
And  I  wyll  styfly  by  you  stande, 
Ready  for  to  fyghte  ; 

Be  the  knave  never  so  stoute,  200 

I  shall  rappe  him  on  the  snoute, 
And  put  hym  to  flyghte. 

The  rest  is  wanting. 

i  Supplied  by  R.  »  Co.  your. 


ST.    GEORGE   PLAYS. 


The  first  is  printed  from  Notes  and  Queries,  Fifth  Series,  II,  503-505,  to 
which  it  was  communicated  by  the  Rev.  Frederick  George  Lee.  Mr.  Lee  says  : 
"  The  text  was  taken  down  by  myself  from  the  lips  of  one  of  the  performers  in 
1853.  I  first  saw  it  acted  in  the  Hall  of  the  old  Vicarage  House  at  Thame,  in  the 
year  1839.  .  .  .  The  man  from  whom  I  took  [it]  down  had  performed  at  Brill  in 
the  year  1807,  and  his  father  had  done  the  same  at  Thame  Park  in  the  previous 
century.  Nothing  whatsoever  has  been  altered  or  added  by  myself  [except  stage 
directions]." 

The  second  is  printed  from  W.  Kelly's  "  Notices  of  Leicester,"  London,  1865, 
PP-  53~5°-  It  was  performed  near  Lutterworth,  at  Christmas,  1863. 


I. 

[OXFORDSHIRE  ST.  GEORGE  PLAY.] 
Dramatis  Personae. 

OLD  FATHER  CHRISTMAS.  GIANT  BLUNDERBORE. 

ST.  GEORGE  OF  ENGLAND.  OLD  DR.  BALL. 

KING  ALFRED.  LITTLE  JACK. 

KING  ALFRED'.S  QUEEN.  THE  OLD  DRAGON. 

KING  WILLIAM.  THE  MERRY  ANDREW. 

OLD  KING  COLE  (with  a  -wooden  leg).  MORRIS-MEN. 

All  the  mummers  come  in  singing  and  walk  round  the  place  in  a  circle, 
and  then  stand  on  one  side. 

Enter 1  KING  ALFRED  and  his  QUEBN,  arm  in  arm. 

I  am  King  Alfred,  and  this  here  is  my  bride. 

I  Ve  a  crown  on  my  pate  and  a  sword  by  my  side. 

Stands  apart. 
1  /«  such  flays  enter  means  "  advance  from  the  circle  of  flayers." 


290  ST.   GEORGE    PLAYS. 

Enter  KING  COLE. 

I  am  King  Cole,  and  I  carry  my  stump. 

Hurrah  for  King  Charles  !  down  with  old  Noll's  Rump  ! 

Stands  apart. 
Enter  KING  WILLIAM. 

I  am  King  William  of  blessed  me-mo-ry,  5 

Who  came  and  pulled  down  the  high  gallows  tree, 
And  brought  us  all  peace  and  pros-pe-ri-ty. 

Stands  apart. 
Enter  GIANT  BLUNDKRBORB. 

I  am  Giant  Blunderbore,  fee,  fi,  fum, 
Ready  to  fight  ye  all,  —  so  I  says,  "  Come  "  ; 

Enter  LITTLE  JACK. 

And  this  here  is  my  little  man  Jack —  10 

A  thump  on  his  rump  and  a  whack  on  his  back ! 

Strikes  him  twice. 

I  '11  fight  King  Alfred,  I  '11  fight  King  Cole, 

I  'm  ready  to  fight  any  mortal  soul  ; 

So  here  I,  Blunderbore,  takes  my  stand, 

With  this  little  devil,  Jack,  at  my  right  hand,  15 

Ready  to  fight  for  mortal  life.     Fee,  fi,  fum  ! 

The  GIANT  and  LITTLE  JACK  stand  apart. 
Enter  ST.  GEORGE. 

I  am  St.  George  of  Merry  Eng-land, 
Bring  in  the  morres-men,  bring  in  our  band. 

MORRES-MEN  come  forward  and  dance  to  a  tune  from  fife  and  drum. 
The  dance  being  ended,  ST.  GEORGE  continues : 

These  are  our  tricks,  Ho  !  men,  ho  ! 

These  are  our  sticks,  —  whack  men  so !  20 

Strikes  THE  DRAGON,  who  roars,  and  comes  forward. 
THE  DRAGON  speaks. 

Stand  on  head,  stand  on  feet ! 
Meat,  meat,  meat  for  to  eat ! 

Tries  to  bite  KING  ALFRED. 


OXFORDSHIRE  ST.  GEORGE  PLAY.         2QI 

I  am  the  Dragon,  here  are  my  jaws  ; 

I  am  the  Dragon,  here  are  my  claws. 

Meat,  meat,  meat  for  to  eat !  25 

Stand  on  my  head,  stand  on  my  feet ! 

Turns  a  summersault  and  stands  aside. 
A II  sing,  several  times  repeated : 

Ho  !  ho  !  ho  ! 
Whack  men  so  ! 

The  drum  and  fife  sound.     They  all  fight,  and  after  general  disorder, 
fall  down. 

Enter  OLD  DR.  BALL. 

I  am  the  Doctor,  and  I  cure  all  ills, 

Only  gullup  my  portions,1  and  swallow  my  pills  ;  30 

I  can  cure  the  itch,  the  stitch,  the  pox,  the  palsy  and  the  gout, 

All  pains  within  and  all  pains  without. 

Up  from  the  floor,  Giant  Blunderbore  ! 

Gives  him  a  pill,  and  he  rises  at  once. 

Get  up,  King  ;  get  up,  Bride  ; 

Get  up,  Fool,  and  stand  aside.  35 

Gives  them  each  a  pill,  and  they  rise. 

Get  up,  King  Cole,  and  tell  the  gentlefolks  all 
There  never  was  a  doctor  like  Mr.  Doctor  Ball. 
Get  up,  St.  George,  old  England's  knight, 

Gives  him  a  pill. 

You  have  wounded  the  Dragon  and  finished  the  fight. 

All  stand  aside  but  THE  DRAGON,  who  lies  in  convulsions  on  the  floor. 

Now  kill  the  Dragon  and  poison  old  Nick  ;  40 

At  Yule-tyde,  both  o'  ye,  cut  your  stick  ! 

THE  DOCTOR  forces  a  large  pill  down  THE  DRAGON'S  throat,  who  there- 
upon roars,  and  dies  in  convulsions. 

Then  enter  FATHER  CHRISTMAS. 

I  am  Father  Christmas  !  hold,  men,  hold  ! 

Be  there  loaf  in  your  locker,  and  sheep  in  your  fold, 

A  fire  on  the  hearth,  and  good  luck  for  your  lot, 

Money  in  your  pocket,  and  a  pudding  in  the  pot !  45 

1  Lee  suggests  potions,  which  is  right. 


ST.   GEORGE    PLAYS. 
He  sings : 

Hold,  men,  hold  ! 
Put  up  your  sticks, 
End  all  your  tricks  ; 
Hold,  men,  hold  ! 

Chorus  (all  sing,  while  one  goes  round  with  a  hat  for  gifts), 

Hold,  men,  hold  !  50 

We  are  very  cold, 
Inside  and  outside, 
We  are  very  cold. 
If  you  don't  give  us  silver, 

Then  give  us  gold  55 

From  the  money  in  your  pockets  — 

Some  of  the  performers  show  signs  of  fighting  again. 

Hold,  men,  hold  ! 

Song  and  chorus. 

God  A'mighty  bless  your  hearth  and  fold, 

Shut  out  the  wolf,  and  keep  out  the  cold ! 

You  gev'  us  silver,  keep  you  the  gold,  60 

For  't  is  money  in  your  pocket.  —  Hold,  men,  hold  ! 

Repeat  in  chorus. 

God  A'mighty  bless,  &c. 

Exeunt  omnes. 
II. 

LUTTERWORTH    CHRISTMAS    PLAY. 

Dramatis  Personae. 

KING  OF  ENGLAND  ;  in  robes,  wearing  the  crown. 
PRINCE  GEORGE,  HIS  SON  ;  in  robes,  -with  sword  by  his  side. 
CAPTAIN  SLASHER  ;  in  military  costume,  with  sword  and  pistol. 
TURKISH  CHAMPION  ;  ditto.  BEELZEBUB. 

A  NOBLE  DOCTOR.  A  CLOWN. 

Enter  CAPTAIN  SLASHER. 

[CAPT.  S.]     I  beg  your  pardon  for  being  so  bold, 
I  enter  your  house,  the  weather  's  so  cold. 


LUTTERWORTH    CHRISTMAS    PLAY.  2Q3 

Room,  a  room  !  brave  gallants  give  us  room  to  sport, 

For  in  this  house  we  do  resort, 

Resort,  resort  for  many  a  day.  5 

Step  in,  the  King  of  England, 

And  boldly  clear  the  way  ! 

Enter  KING  OF  ENGLAND. 

[KiNG  OF  E.]     I  am  the  King  of  England  that  boldly  does 

appear ; 
I  come  to  seek  my  only  son, —  my  only  son  is  here. 

Enter  PRINCE  GEORGE. 

[PRINCE  G.]     I  am  Prince  George,  a  worthy  knight ;  10 

I  '11  spend  my  blood  for  England's  right, 
England's  right  I  will  maintain, 
I  '11  fight  for  old  England  once  again. 

Enter  TURKISH  KNIGHT. 

[TURK.  KN.]     I  am  the  Turkish  Champion, 
From  Turkey's  land  I  come  ;  1 5 

I  come  to  fight  the  King  of  England 
And  all  his  noble  men. 

CAPTAIN  SLASHER. 

[CAPT.  S.]     In  comes  Captain  Slasher, 
Captain  Slasher  is  my  name  ; 

With  sword  and  pistol  by  my  side  20 

I  hope  to  win  the  game. 

KING  OF  E.     I  am  the  King  of  England, 
As  you  may  plainly  see  ; 
These  are  my  soldiers  standing  by  me. 

They  stand  by  me  your  life  to  end,  25 

On  them  doth  my  life  depend. 

PRINCE  G.     I  am  Prince  George,  the  champion  bold, 
And  with  my  sword  I  won  three  crowns  of  gold  ; 
I  slew  the  fiery  dragon  and  brought  him  to  the  slaughter 
And  won  the  King  of  Egypt's  only  daughter.  30 

TURK.  KN.     As  I  was  going  by  St.  Francis'  School. 


294  ST-   ^EORGE    PLAYS. 

I  heard  a  lady  cry,  "  A  fool  !  a  fool  !  " 

"  A  fool  !  "  was  every  word  ; 

That  man  's   a  fool, 

Who  wears  a  wooden  sword.  35 

PRINCE  G.     A  wooden  sword?  you  dirty  dog  ! 
My  sword  is  made  of  the  best  of  metal  free. 
If  you  would  like  to  taste  of  it, 
I  '11  give  it  unto  thee. 

Stand  off,  stand  off,  you  dirty  dog  !  40 

Or  by  my  sword  you  '11  die  ; 
I  '11  cut  you  down  the  middle 
And  make  your  blood  to  fly. 

They  fight ;  PRINCE  GEORGE  falls,  mortally  mounded. 

KING  OF  E.     Oh  horrible  !  terrible  !  what  hast  thou  done  ? 
Thou  hast  ruined  me,  ruined  me,  45 

By  killing  of  my  only  son  ! 
Oh,  is  there  ever  a  noble  doctor  to  be  found, 
To  cure  this  English  champion 
Of  his  deep  and  deadly  wound  ? 

Enter  NOBLE  DOCTOR. 

[DOCTOR.]     Oh  yes,  there  is  a  noble  doctor  to  be  found,        50 
To  cure  this  English  champion 
Of  his  deep  and  deadly  wound. 

KING  OF  E.     And  pray  what  is  your  practice  ? 

DOCTOR.     I  boast  not  of  my  practice,  neither  do  I  study 

in  the  practice  of  physic.  55 

KING  OF  E.     What  can  you  cure  ? 

DOCTOR.     All  sorts  of  diseases, 
Whatever  you  pleases  : 
I  can  cure  the  itch,  the  pitch, 

The  phthisic,  the  palsy,  and  the  gout ;  60 

And  if  the  devil 's  in  the  man, 
I  can  fetch  him  out. 
My  wisdom  lies  in  my  wig. 
I  torture  not  my  patients  wjth  excations 
Such  as  pills,  boluses,  solutions,  and  embrocations  ;  65 


LUTTERWORTH    CHRISTMAS    PLAY.  2Q5 

But  by  the  word  of  command 

I  can  make  this  mighty  prince  to  stand. 

KING.     What  is  your  fee  ? 

DOCTOR.     Ten  pounds,  is  true. 

KING.     Proceed,  noble  doctor  ;  70 

You  shall  have  your  due. 

DOCTOR.     Arise,  arise  !  most  noble  prince,  arise, 
And  no  more  dormant  lay  ; 
And  with  thy  sword 
Make  all  thy  foes  obey.  75 

The  PRINCE  arises. 

PRINCE  G.     My  head  is  made  of  iron, 
My  body  is  made  of  steel, 
My  legs  are  made  of  crooked  bones, 
To  force  you  all  to  yield. 

Enter  BEELZEBUB. 

BEEL.     in  comes  I,  old  Beelzebub  ;  80 

Over  my  shoulder  I  carry  my  club, 
And  in  my  hand  a  frying-pan, 
Pleased  to  get  all  the  money  I  can. 

Enter  CLOWN. 

CLOWN.     In  comes  I,  who  's  never  been  yet, 
With  my  great  head  and  little  wit  :  85 

My  head  is  great,  my  wit  is  small, 
I  '11  do  my  best  to  please  you  all. 

Song  by  all. 

And  now  we  are  done  and  must  be  gone, 

No  longer  will  we  stay  here  ; 
But  if  you  please,  before  we  go,  90 

We  '11  taste  your  Christmas  beer. 

Exeunt  omnes. 


[THE    REVESBY    SWORD    PLAY.] 


Printed  from  The  Folk-Lore  Journal,  VII,  338-53,  where  it  is  published  by 
T.  F.  Ordish.  In  the  footnotes,  O.  indicates  this  edition.  I  have  made  no  unin- 
dicated  alteration  except  in  capitals,  punctuation,  and  the  abbreviation  of  the 
names  of  the  speakers.  Although  the  play  contains,  as  Ordish  points  out, 
many  different  elements,  I  have  indicated  in  the  title  chosen  for  it  only  its 
most  prominent  feature. 


OCTOBER  YE  20,  1779. 

The  Morrice  Dancers  (named  in  Dramatis  Personae)  acted 
their  merry  dancing,  &c.,  at  Revesby,  in  their  ribbon  dresses,  &c., 
and  two  men  from  Kirtley,  without  any  particular  dresses,  sung 
the  song  of  Landlord  and  Tenant.1 

John  Ironmonger  acted  the  LANDLORD,  and 
John  Clarkson         "      "    TENANT. 

Dramatis  Persona. 


Men. 


THE  FOOL 
PICKLE  HERRING    . 
BLUE  BREECHES 
PEPPER  BREECHES 
GINGER  BREECHES 
MR.  ALLSPICE 


John  Johnson. 
Richd.  Johnson. 
Henry  Johnson. 
John  Tomlinson. 
Chas.  Hodgson. 
Thos.  Harness. 


Women. 
CICELY      

FIDLER,  or  MR.  MUSICK  MAN, 


John  Fisher. 

John  Johnson,  junr. 


1  This  song  is  omitted  here  because  it  has  nothing  to  do  -with  the  play 
and  is  a  not  very  interesting  specimen  of  the  de'bat,  examples  of -which  will 
be  given  in  vol.  III. 


THE    PLOW    BOYS,    OR    MORRIS    DANCERS.  2Q? 


THE  PLOW  BOYS,  or  MORRIS  DANCERS. 
Enter  FOOL. 

You  gentle  Lords  of  honour, 

Of  high  and  low,  I  say, 
We  all  desire  your  favour 

For  to  see  our  pleasant  play.  4 

Our  play  it  is  the  best,  kind  sirs, 

That  you  would  like  to  know  ; 
And  we  will  do  our  best,  sirs, 

And  think  it  well  bestowd.  8 

Tho'  some  of  us  be  little, 

And  some  of  a  middle  sort, 
We  all  desire  your  favour 

To  see  our  pleasant  sport.  12 

You  must  not  look  on  our  actions, 

Our  wits  they  are  all  to  seek, 
So  I  pray  take  no  exceptions 

At  what  1  am  a-going  to  speak.  16 

We  are  come  over  the  mire  and  moss  ; 

We  dance  an  Hobby  Horse  ; 

A  Dragon  you  shall  see, 

And  a  wild  Worm  for  to  flee. 

Still  we  are  all  brave,  jovial  boys 

And  takes  delight  in  Christmas  toys.  22 

We  are  come  both  for  bread  and  beer, 

And  hope  for  better  cheer 

And  something  out  of  your  purse,  sir, 

Which  I  hope  you  will  be  never  the  worse,  sir. 

Still  we  are  all  brave,  jovial  boys 

And  takes  delight  in  Christmas  toys.  28 


298  THE    REVESBY    SWORD    PLAY. 

Come  now,  Mr.  Musick  Man,  play  me  my  delight. 
FIDLER.     What  is  that,  old  father  ?  30 

FOOL.     Ah  !  boy,  times  is  hard  !     I  love  to  have  money  in 

both  pockets. 

FID.     You  shall  have  it,  old  father. 
FOOL.     Let  me  see  it. 

THE  FOOL  then  calls  in  his  five  sons  :  first  PICKLE  HERRING,  then  BLUE 
BRITCHES,  then  GINGER  BRITCHES,  PEPPER  BRITCHES,  and  last  calls  out : 

Come  now,  you  Mr.  Allspice  !  35 

They  foot  it  once  round  the  room,  and  the  man  that  is  to  ride  the  Hobby 
Horse  goes  out,  and  the  rest  sing  the  following  song : 

Come  in,  come  in,  thou  Hobby  Horse, 

And  bring  thy  old  fool  at  thy  arse  ! 

Sing  tanter[a]day,  sing  tanter[a]day, 

Sing  heigh  down,  down,  with  a  derry  down  a  !  39 

Then  THE  FOOL  and  the  Horse  fights  about  the  room,  -whilst  the  following 
song  is  singing  by  the  rest : 

Come  in,  come  in,  thou  bonny  wild  Worm  ! 

For  thou  hast  ta'en  many  a  lucky  turn. 

Sing  tanteraday,  sing  tanteraday, 

Sing  heigh  down,  down,  with  a  derry  down  !  43 

The  wild  Worm  is  only  sprung  three  or  four  times,  as  the  man  walks 
round  the  room,  and  then  goes  out,  and  the  Horse  and  THE  FOOL  fights 
again,  -whilst  the  following  song  is  sung: 

Come  in,  come  in,  thou  Dragon  stout, 

And  take  thy  compass  round  about ! 

Sing  tanteraday,  sing  tanteraday, 

Sing  heigh  down,  down,  with  a  derry  down  !  47 

Now  you  shall  see  a  full  fair  fight 

Between  our  old  Fool  and  his  right. 

Sing  tanteraday,  sing  tanteraday, 

Sing  heigh  down,  down,  with  a  derry  down  !  51 

Now  our  scrimage  is  almost  done  ; 
Then  you  shall  see  more  sport  soon. 


THE  PLOW  BOYS,  OR  MORRIS  DANCERS.     299 

Sing  tanteraday,  sing  tanteraday, 

Sing  heigh  down,  down,  with  a  derry  down  !  55 

FOOL.     Up  well  hart,1  and  up  well  hind  ! 

Let  every  man  then  to  his  own  kind. 

Sing  tanteraday,  sing  tanteraday, 

Sing  heigh  down,  down,  with  a  derry  down !  59 

'  Come,  follow  me,  merry  men  all ! 
Tho'  we  have  made  bold  for  to  call, 
It  is  only  once  by  the  year 
That  we  are  so  merry  here. 
Still  we  are  all  brave,  jovial  boys, 
And  takes  delight  in  Christmas  toys.  65 

Then  they  all  foot  it  round  the  room  and  follows  THE  FOOL  out.  They 
all  re-enter,  and  lock  their  swords  to  make  tlte  glass,  THE  FOOL  running 
about  the  room. 

PICKLE  HERRING.     What  is  the  matter  now,  father  ? 

FOOL.     Why,  I  tell  the[e]  what,  Pickle  Herring.    As  a  I  was 
a-looking  round  about  me  through  my  wooden  spectacles 
made  of  a  great,  huge,  little  tiney  bit  of  leather,  placed 
right  behind  me,  even  before  me,  I  thought  I  saw  a  feat     70 
thing  — 

P.  H.     You  thought  you  saw  a  feat  thing?     What  might  this 
feat  thing  be,  think  you,  father? 

FOOL.     How  can  I  tell,  boy,  except  I  see  it  again? 

P.  H.     Would  you  know  it  if  you  see  it  again  ?  75 

FOOL.     I  cannot  tell  thee,  boy.     Let  me  get  it  looked  at. 

PICKLE  HERRING,  holding  up  the  glass,  says : 

[P.  H.]     Is  this  it,  father  ? 

THE  FOOL,  looking  round,  says : 

[FooL.]     Why,   I   protest,   Pickle   Herring,  the  very  same 
thing  !     But  what  might  thou  call  this  very  pretty  thing? 
P.  H.     What  might  you  call  it  ?     You  are  older  than  I  am.        8c 
FOOL.     How  can  that  be,  boy,  when  I  was  born  before  you? 
P.  H.     That  is. the  reason  that  makes  you  older. 

l  O.  hark. 


3OO  THE    REVESBY    SWORD    PLAY. 

FOOL.     Well,  what  dost  thou  call  this  very  pretty  thing  ? 

P.  H.     Why,  I  call  it  a  fine  large  looking-glass. 

FOOL.     Let  me  see  what  I  can  see  in  this  fine  large  looking-     85 
glass.     Here's  a  hole  through  it,  I  see.     I  see,  and  I 
see  ! 

P.  H.     You  see  and  you  see  ?  and  what  do  you  see  ? 

FOOL.     Marry,  e'en  a  fool,  just  like  the[e]  ! 

P.  H.     It  is  only  your  own  face  in  the  glass.  90 

FOOL.  Why,  a  fool  may  be  mistain  sometimes,  Pickle  Her- 
ring. But  what  might  this  fine  large  looking-glass  cost 
the[e] ? 

P.  H.     That  fine  large  looking-glass  cost  me  a  guinea. 

FOOL.     A  guinea,  boy  ?     Why,  I  could  have  bought  as  good     95 
a  one  at  my  own  door  for  three  half-pence. 

P.  H.     Why,  fools  and  cuckolds  has  always  the  best  luck  ! 

FOOL.  .   That  is  as  much  to  say  thy  father  is  one. 

P.  H.     Why,  you  pass  for  one  ! 

THE  FOOL,  keeping  the  glass  all  the  -while  in  his  hands,  says: 

FOOL.     Why  was  thou  such  a  ninnie,  boy,  to  go  to  ware  a  100 
guinea  to  look  for  thy  beauty  where  it  never  was  ?     But 
I  will  shew  thee,  boy,  how  foolish  thou  hast  wared  a 
deal  of  good  money. 

Then  THE  FOOL  flings  the  glass  upon  the  floor,  jumps  upon  it ;  then  the 
dancers  every  one  drawing  out  his  own  sword,  and  THE  FOOL  dancing 
about  the  room,  PICKLE  HERRING  takes  him  by  the  collar  and  says : 

P.  H.     Father,  father,  you   are  so  merrylly  disposed    this 

good  time  there  is  no  talking  to  you  !     Here  is  very  bad  105 

news. 
FOOL.     Very  good  news  ?     I  am  glad  to  hear  it ;  I  do  not 

hear  good  news  every  day. 
P.  H.     It  is  very  bad  news  ! 

FOOL.     Why,  what  is  the  matter  now,  boy  ?  1 10 

P.  H.     We  have  all  concluded  to  cut  off  your  head. 
FOOL.     Be  mercyfull  to  me,  a  sinner  !     If  you  should  do  as 

you  have  said,  there  is  no  such  thing.     I  would  not  lose 

my  son  Pickle  Herring  for  fifty  pounds. 


THE    PLOW    BOYS,  OR    MORRIS    DANCERS.  3<DI 

P.  H.     It  is  your  son  Pickle  Herring  that  must  lose  you.     It  1 15 

is  your  head  we  desire  to  take  off. 
FOOL.     My  head  ?     I  never  had  my  head  taken  off  in  all  my 

life  ! 

P.  H.     You  both  must  and  shall. 
FOOL.     Hold,  hold,  boy  !    thou  seem'st  to  be  in  good  ear-  1 20 

nest  ;  but  I  '11  tell  thee  where  I  :11  be  buryed. 
P.  H.     Why,  where  will  you  be  buried  but  in  the  churchyard, 

where  other  people  are  buried  ? 
FOOL.     Churchyard  ?     I  never  was   buried  there  in  all  my 

life  !  125 

P.  H.     Why,  where  will  you  be  buried  ? 
FOOL.     Ah  !  boy,  I  am  often  dry  ;  I  will  be  buried  in  Mr. 

Mirfin's  ale-celler. 
P.  H.     It  is  such  a  place  as  I  never  heard  talk  off  in  all  my 

life.  130 

FOOL.     No,  nor  nobody  else,  boy. 
P.  H.     What  is  your  fancy  to  be  buried  there  ? 
FOOL.     Ah  !  boy,  I  am  oftens  dry,  and,  when  they  come  to 

fill  the  quart,  I  '11  drink  it  off,  and  they  will  wonder  what 

is  the  matter.  135 

P.  H.     How  can  you  do  so  when  you  will  be  dead  ?     We  shall 

take  your  head  from  your  body,  and  you  will  be  dead. 
FOOL.     If  I  must  die,  I  will  dye  with  my  face  to  the  light,for 

all  you  ! 

Then  THE  FOOL,  kneeling  down,  with  the  swords  round  his  neck,  says : 

FOOL.     Now,  gentlemen,  you  see  how  ungratefull  my  chil-  140 
dren  is  grown  !     When  I  had  them  all  at  home,  small, 
about  as  big  as  I  am,  I  put  them  out  to  good  learning  : 
I   put  them  to  Coxcomb  Colledge,  and  then  to  the  Uni- 
versity of  Loggerheads ;  and  I  took  them  home  again 
this  good  time  of  Christmas,  and   I  examin'd  them  all  145 
one  by  one,  all  together *  for  shortness.     And  now  they 
are  grown  so  proud  and  so  presumptions  they  are  a-going 
to  kill  their  old  father  for  his  little  means.     So  I  must 
dye  for  all  this  ? 

i  O.  altogether. 


3<D2  THE    REVESBY    SWORD    PLAY. 

P.  H.     You  must  dye,  father.  150 

FOOL.     And  I  will  die  for  all  the  tother.     But  I  have  a  little 
something,  I  will  give  it  amongst  you  as  far  as  it  goes, 
and  then  I  shall  dye  quietly. 
P.  H.     I  hope  you  will. 

FOOL.     So,  to  my  first  son,  Pickle  Herring,  —  l  155 

I  '11  give  him  the  roaned  nag, 
And  that  will  make  the  rogue  brag. 
And  to  my  second  son,  — 

I  '11  give  him  the  brindled  cow. 

And  to  my  third  son, —  160 

I  '11  give  him  the  sanded  sow ; 
And  hope  I  shall  please  you  all  enow. 
And  to  my  fourth  son,  — 

I  '11  give  him  the  great  ruff  dog, 
For  he  always  lives  like  a  hog.  165 

And  to  my  fifth  son,  — 

I  '11  give  him  the  ram, 
And  I  '11  dye  like  a  lamb. 

Then  they  draw  their  swords,  and  THE  FOOL  falls  on  the  floor,  and  the 
dancers  walk  once  round  THE  FOOL  ;  and  PICKLB  HERRING  stamps -with 
his  foot  andlw*.  FOOL  rises  on  his  knees  again  ;  and  PICKLE  HERRING 
says : 

P.  H.     How  now,  father  ? 

FOOL.     How  now,  then,  boy  ?     I   have  another  squeak  for  1 70 

my  life  ? 
P.  H.     You  have  a  many. 

Then,  the  dancers  pitting  their  swords  round 'THE  FOOL'S  neck  again, 

FOOL.     So  I  must  dye  ? 
P.  H.     You  must  dye,  father. 

FOOL.     Hold!    I  have  yet  a  little  something  more  to  leave  175 
amongst  you,  and  then   I   hope  I  shall  dye  quietly.     So 
to  my  first  son,  Pickle  Herring, — 

I  '11  give  him  my  cap  and  my  coat,  — 
A  very  good  sute,  boy. 

l  Lines  156-185  as  prose  in  O. 


THE  PLOW  BOYS,  OR  MORRIS  DANCERS.      303 

And  to  my  second  son,  —  180 

I  '11  give  him  my  purse  and  apparel, 
But  be  sure,  boys,  you  do  not  quarrel. 

As  to  my  other  three, 

My  executors  they  shall  be. 

Then,  PICKLE  HERRING  puting  his  hand  to  his  sword, 

FOOL.     Hold,  hold,  boy  !     Now  I  submit  my  soul  to  God.       185 

P.  H.     A  very  good  thought,  old  father  ! 

FOOL.     Mareham  churchyard,  I  hope,  shall  have  my  bones. 

Then   the   dancers  -walk  round  THE  FOOL  -with  their  swords  in  their 
hands,  and  PICKLE  HERRING  stamps  with  his  foot  and  says : 

[P.  H.]     Heigh,  old  father  ! 

FOOL.     Why,  boy,  since  I  have  been  out  of  this  troublesome 

world  I  have  heard  so  much  musick  of  fiddles  playing  190 
and  bells  ringing  that  I  have  a  great  fancy  to  go  away 
singing.     So,  prithee,  Pickle  Herring,  let  me  have  one 
of  thy  best  songs. 

P.  H.     You  shall  have  it,  old  father. 

FOOL.     Let  me  see  it.  195 

They  sing. 

Good  people  all,  I  pray  you  now  behold, 

Our  old  Fool's  bracelet  is  not  made  of  gold, 

But  it  is  made  of  iron  and  good  steel, 

And  unto  death  we  '11  make  this  old  Fool  yield.  1 99 

FOOL.     I  pray,  forbear,  my  children  small  ; 

For,  as  I  am  lost  as  parent  to  you  all, 

O,  let  me  live  a  while  your  sport  for  to  advance, 

That  I  may  rise  again  and  with  you  have  a  dance.  203 

THE  SONS  sing. 

Now,  old  father,  that  you  know  our  will, 

That  for  your  estate  we  do  your  body  kill, 

Soon  after  death  the  bell  for  you  shall  toll, 

And  wish  the  Lord  he  may  receive  your  soul.  207 


304  THE    REVESBY    SWORD    PLAY. 

Then   THE   FOOL  falls   down,   and  the  dancers,   with   their  swords   in 
their  hands,  sings  the  following  song  '. 

Good  people  all,  you  see  what  we  have  done  : 

We  have  cut  down  our  father  like  the  J  evening  sun, 

And  here  he  lies  all  in  his  purple  gore, 

And  we  are  afraid  he  never  will  dance  more.  21 1 

FOOL  rises  from  the  floor  and  says : 

[FooL.]     No,  no,  my  children  !  by  chance  you  are  all  mistaen  ! 

For  here  I  find  myself,  I  am  not  slain  ; 

But  I  will  rise,  your  sport  then  to  advance, 

And  with  you  all,  brave  boys,  I  '11  have  a  dance.  215 

Then  the  Foreman  and  CICELY  dances  down  and  the  other  two  couple 
stand  their  ground.  After  a  short  dance  called  "Jack,the  brisk  young- 
Drummer,"  they  all  go  out  but  THE  FOOL,  FIDLER,  and  CICELY. 

FOOL.     Hear  you,  do  you  please  to  hear  the  sport  of  a  fool? 

CICELY.     A  fool  ?  for  why  ? 

FOOL.  Because  I  can  neither  leap,  skip,  nor  dance,  but  cut 
a  caper  thus  high.  \He  capers.'}  Sound,  music  !  I  must 
be  gon  ;  the  Lord  of  Pool  draws  nigh.  220 

Enter  PICKLE  HERRING. 

P.  H.     I  am  the  Lord  of  Pool, 

And  here  begins  my  measure,2 
And  after  me  a  fool, 

To  dance  a  while  for  pleasure 
In  Cupid's  school.  225 

FOOL.     A  fool,  a  fool,  a  fool, 

A  fool  I  heard  thou  say,2 

But  more  the  other  way, 
For  here  I  have  a. tool 

Will  make  a  maid  to  play, 
Although  in  Cupid's  school. 

Come  all  away  !  232 

1  O.  ye. 

2  O.  has  these  two  lines  as  one. 


THE    PLOW    BOYS,  OR    MORRIS    DANCERS.  305 

Enter  BLUE  BRITCHES. 

BLUE  B.     I  am  the  Knight  of  Lee, 

And  here  I  have  a  dagger, 
Offended  not  to  be. 

Come  in,  thou  needy  beggar, 
And  follow  me  !  237 

Enter  GINGER  BRITCHES. 

GINGER  B.     Behold,  behold,  behold 

A  man  of  poor  estate  ! 
Not  one  penny  to  infold  !  240 

Enter  PEPPER  BRITCHES. 

PEPPER  B.     My  money  is  out  at  use,  or  else  I  would. 

Enter  MR.  ALLSPICE. 

ALLSPICE.     With  a  hack,  a  hack,  a  hack, 
See  how  I  will  skip  and  dance 

For  joys  that  we  have  found  ! 

Let  each  man  take  his  chance,  245 

And  we  will  all  dance  around. 

Then  they  dance  the  sword  dance  which  is  called  "  Nelly's  Gig  "  ;  then 
they  run  under  their  swords,  which  is  called  "  Runing  Battle  "  ;  then 
three  dancers  dances  with  three  swords,  and  the  Foreman  jumping 
over  the  swords ;  then  THE  FOOL  goes  up  to  CICELY. 

FOOL.     Here  comes  I  that  never  come  yet, 

Since  last  time,  lovy  ! 
I  have  a  great  head  but  little  wit. 

Tho'  my  head  be  great  and  my  wits  be  small,  250 

I  can  play  the  fool  for  a  while  as  well  as  [the]  best  of  ye  all. 
1  My  name  is  noble  Anthony  ; 
I  am  as  meloncholly  as  a  mantle-tree. 
I  am  come  to  show  you  a  little  sport  and  activity, 

And  soon,  too  !  255 

Make  room  for  noble  Anthony 
And  all  his  good  company  ! 
Drive  out  all  these  proud  rogues,  and  let  my  lady  and  I  have 

a  parl .  j  Exeuni  att  but  FooL  and  CICELY.] 

1  Lines  253-266  as  prose  in  O. 


306  THE    REVESBY    SWORD    PLAY. 

CICELY.     O,  ye  clown  !  what  makes  you  drive  out  my  men 

so  soon?  261 

FOOL.     O,  pardon,  madam,  pardon  !  and  I 

Will  never  offend  you  more. 
I  will  make  your  men  come  in  as  fast 

As  ever  they  did  before.  265 

CICELY.     I  pray  you  at  my  sight, 

And  drive  it  not  till  night,1 
That  I  may  see  them  dance  once  more 

So  lovely  in  my  sight.1  269 

FOOL.     A-faith,  madam,  and  so  I  will ! 

I  will  play  the  man l 
And  make  them  come  in 

As  fast  as  ever  I  can.  — l  273 

But  hold,  gip  !  Mrs.  Clagars, 

How  do  you  sell  geese  ? l 
CICELY.     Go,  look,  Mister  Midgecock  ! 

Twelve  pence  apiece. l  277 

FOOL.     Oh,  the  pretty  pardon  ! 

CICELY.     A  gip  for  a  frown  ! 
FOOL.     An  ale-wife  for  an  apparitor ! 

CICELY.     A  rope  for  a  clown  ! 
FOOL.     Why,  all  the  devise  in  the  country 

Cannot  pull  this  down  ! l  283 

I  am  a  valiant  knight  just  come  from  the  seas  :2 

You  do  know  me,  do  you  ? 

I  can  kUl  you  ten  thousand,  tho'  they  be  but  fleas. 
I  can  kill  you  a  man  for  an  ounce  of  mustard, 
Or  I  can  kill  you  ten  thousand  for  a  good  custard. 

I  have  an  old  sheep  skin, 

And  I  lap  it  well  in,  290 

Sword  and  buckler  by  my  side,  all  ready  for  to  fight  ! 

1  As  one  line  in  0.  2  Two  lines  in  O. 


THE    PLOW    BOYS,    OR    MORRIS    DANCERS.  307 

Come  forth,  you  whores  and  gluttons  all  !  for,  had  it  not  been 
in  this  country,  I  should  not  have  shewen  my  valour 
amongst  you.  But  sound,  music  !  for  I  must  be  gone.  294 

[Exit  FOOL.] 
Enter  PICKLE  HERRING. 

P.  H.     In  first  and  formost  do  I  come, 

All  for  to  lead  this  race, 
Seeking  the  country  far  and  near 

So  fair  a  lady  to  embrace.  298 

So  fair  a  lady  did  I. never  see, 

So  comely  in  my  sight, 
Brest  in  her  gaudy  gold 

And  silver  shining  bright.  302 

She  has  fingers  long,  and  rings 

Of  honor  of  beaten  gold  : 

My  masters  all,  behold  ! 
It  is  now  for  some  pretty  dancing  time, 
And  we  will  foot  it  fine.  307 

BLUE  B.     I  am  a  youth  of  jollitree  ; 

Where  is  there  one  like  unto  me  ? 

My  hair  is  bush'd  very  thick ; 

My  body  is  like  an  hasel  stick  ;  311 

My  legs  they  quaver  like  an  eel ; 

My  arms  become  my  body  weel  ; 

My  fingers  they  are  long  and  small : 

Am  not  I  a  jolly  youth,  proper  and  tall?  315 

Therefore,  Mister  Musick  Man, 

Whatsoever  may  be  my  chance, 
It  is  for  my  ladie's  love  and  mine, 

Strike  up  the  morris  dance.  319 

Then  they  foot  it  once  round. 

GINGER  B.    I  am  a  jolly  young  man  of  flesh,  blood  and  bone  ; 
Give  eare,  my  masters  all,  each  one  !  321 


308  THE    REVESBY    SWORD    PLAY. 

And  especially  you,  my  lady  dear, 

I  hope  you  like  me  well. 
Of  all  the  gallants  here 

It  is  I  that  doth  so  well.  325 

Therefore,  Mister  Musick  Man, 

Whatsoever  may  be  my  chance, 
It  is  for  my  ladie's  love  and  mine, 

Strike  up  the  morris  dance.  329 

Then  they  foot  it  round. 

PEPPER  B.     I  am  my  father's  eldest  son, 

And  heir  of  all  his  land, 
And  in  a  short  time,  I  hope, 

It  will  fall  into  my  hands.  333 

I  was  brought  up  at  Lindsey  Court 

All  the  days  of  my  life. 
Here  stands  a  fair  lady, 

I  wish  she  was  my  wife.  337 

I  love  her  at  my  heart, 

And  from  her  I  will  never  start. 
Therefore,  Mr.  Musick  Man,  play  up  my  part. 
FOOL  (rushing  in).     And  mine,  too  !  341 

Enter  ALLSPICE,  and  they  foot  it  round.     PICKLE   HERRING,  suter  to 
CICELY,  takes  her  by  the  hand,  and -walks  about  the  room. 

P.  H.     Sweet  Ciss,  if  thou  wilt  be  my  love, 

A  thousand  pounds  I  will  give  thee. 
CICELY.     No,  you  're  too  old,  sir,  and  I  am  too  young, 

And  alas  !  old  man,  that  must  not  be.  345 

P.  H.     I  '11  buy  the[e]  a  gown  of  violet  blue, 

A  petticoat  imbroidered  to  thy  knee  ; 
Likewise  my  love  to  thee  shall  be  true. 

CICELY.     But  alas  !  old  man,  that  must  not  be.  349 

P.  H.     Thou  shalt  walk  at  thy  pleasure,  love,  all  the  day, 
If  at  night  thou  wilt  but  come  home  to  me  ; 


THE    PLOW    BOYS,  OR    MORRIS    DANCERS.  309 

And  in  my  house  bear  all  the  sway. 

CICELY.     Your  children  they  '11  find  fault  with  me.  353 

P.  H.     I  '11  turn  my  children  out  of  doors. 

CICELY.     And  so,  I  fear,  you  will  do  me. 
P.  H.     Nay,  then,  sweet  Ciss,  ae'er  trust  me  more, 

For  I  never  loved  lass  before  like  the[ej. l  357 

Enter  FOOL. 

FOOL.     No,  nor  behind,  neither. 
Well  met,  sweet  Cis,  well  over-ta'en  ! 

CICELY.     You  are  kindly  wellcome,  sir,  to  me. 
FOOL.     I  '11  wipe  my  eyes,  and  I  '11  look  again  ! 

Methinks,  sweet  Cis,  I  now  the[e]  see  !  362 

CICELY.     Raf,  what  has  thou  to  pleasure  me? 

FOOL.     Why,  this,  my  dear,  I  will  give  the[e], 
And  all  I  have  it  shall  be  thine. 

CICELY.     Kind  sir,  I  thank  you  heartelly.  366 

P.  H.  (to  THE  FOOL).     Stand  back,  stand  back,  thou  silly  old 

swain  ! 

This  girl  shall  go  with  none  but  me. 
FOOL.     I  will  not ! 
P.  H.     Stand  back,  stand  back,  or  I  '11  cleave  thy  brain 

Tken  PICKLB  HERRING  goes  up  to  Cis,  and  says: 

O,  now,  sweet  Cis,  I  am  come  to  thee  !  371 

CICELY.     You  are  as  wellcome  as  the  rest, 

Wherein  you  brag  so  lustilly. 
FOOL.     For  a  thousand  pounds  she  loves  me  best ! 

I  can  see  by  the  twinkling  of  her  ee.  375 

P.  H.     I  have  store  of  gold,  whereon  I  boast  ; 

Likewise  my  sword,  love,  shall  fight  for  the[e]; 
When  all  is  done,  love,  I  '11  scour  the  coast, 

And  bring  in  gold  for  thee  and  me.  379 

1  O.  like  the  before  ;  emend,  by  Kittredge. 


3IO  THE    REVESBY    SWORD    PLAY. 

CICELY.     Your  gold  may  gain  as  good  as  I, 

But  by  no  means  it  shall  tempt  me  ; 
For  youthfull  years  and  frozen  age 

Cannot  in  any  wise  agree.  383 

Then  BLUE  BRITCHES  goes  up  to  her,  and  says'. 

[BLUE  B.]     Sweet  mistress,  be  advised  by  me  : 

Do  not  let  this  old  man  be  denyed, 
But  love  him  for  his  gold  in  store  ; 

Himself  may  serve  for  a  cloak,  beside.  387 

CICELY.     Yes,  sir,  but  you  are  not  in  the  right. 

Stand  back  and  do  not  council  me  ! 
For  I  love  a  lad  that  will  make  me  laugh 

In  a  secret  place,  to  pleasure  me. 
FOOL.     Good  wench  !  392 

PICKLE  HERRING.     Love,  I  have  a  beard  as  white  as  milk. 

CICELY.     Ne'er  better  for  that,  thou  silly  old  man  ! 
P.  H.     Besides,  my  skin,  love,  is  soft  as  silk. 

FOOL.     And  thy  face  shines  like  a  dripping  pan.  396 

P.  H.     Rafe,  what  has  thou  to  pleasure  her  ? 

FOOL.     Why  a  great  deal  more,  boy,  than  there  's  in 

the[e]. 
P.  H.     Nay  then,  old  rogue,  I  thee  defye. 

CICELY.     I  pray,  dear  friends,  fall  not  out  for  me  !  400 

P.  H.     Once  I  could  skip,  leap,  dance,  and  sing  ; 

Why  will  you  not  give  place  to  me  ? 
FOOL.     Nay,  then,  old  rogue,  I  thee  defye  ; 

For  thy  nose  stands  like  a  Maypole  tree.  404 

Then  goes  up  GINGER  BRITCHES  *  to  CISLEY  and  says : 

[GINGER  B.]     Sweet  mistress,  mind  what  this  man  doth  say, 

For  he  speaks  nothing  but  the  truth  : 
Look  on  the  soldier,  now  I  pray  ; 

See,  is  not  he  a  handsome  youth  ?  408 

i  O.  Breeches. 


THE    PLOW    BOYS,   OR    MORRIS    DANCERS.  311 

CICELY.     Sir,  I  am  engaged  to  one  I  love, 

And  ever  constant  I  will  be, 
There  is  nothing  that  I  prize  above. 

P.  H.     For  a  thousand  pounds,  she  's  gone  from  me  ! 
FOOL.     Thou  may  lay  two  !  413 

CICELY   (to  PICKLE  HERRING).      Old  father,   for   your  reverend 
years, 

Stand  you  the  next  man  unto  me  ; 
Then  he  that  doth  the  weapon  bear  ; 

For  I  will  have  the  hind  man  of  the  three  !  417 

FOOL  (to  PICKLE  HERRING).     Old  father,  a  fig  for  your  old  gold  ! 

The  soldier,  he  shall  bear  no  sway  ! 
But  you  shall  see,  and  so  shall  we, 

'Tis  I  that  carries  the  lass  away  !  421 

Then  the  dancers  take*  y-ijld  of  their  swords,  and  foots  it  round  the  room  ; 
then  every  man  makes  his  obeisance  to  the  master  of  the  house,  and  the 
•whole  concludes. 

FINIS. 


PART    IV 


[MANKIND.] 


For  the  opportunity  to  print  this  specimen  of  the  "  Macro  Moralities"  I  am 
indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  Dr.  Furnivall,  who  allowed  me  to  have  a  copy  made 
from  his  copy  of  the  original  MS.  The  original  MS.,  now  the  property  of  J.  H. 
Gurney,  Esq.,  was  written  apparently  in  the  reign  of  Edward  IV  (cf.  1.  684),  a 
few  miles  east  or  northeast  of  Cambridge  (cf .  11.  499  ff .),  and  was  once  the  prop- 
erty of  a  monk  named  Hyngham  (cf.  verse  at  end  of  play).  I  have  disregarded 
the  flourishes  of  «,  //,  r,  etc. 


\_Dramatis  Personae. 

MANKYNDE.  MERCY. 

NEW  GYSE.  NOW-A-DAYS. 

NOUGHT.  MYSCHEFF. 
TITYVILLUS.] 

\Enter  Mercy.} 

MERCY.     The  very  fownder  &  begynner  of  owv?r  fyrst  crea- 
czbn, 

A-monge  ws  synfull  wrechys  he  oweth  to  be  magnyfyede, 
Tha\.  for  ow^r  dysobedyenc[e]  he  hade  non  indygnac/on 

To  sende  hys  own  son  to  be  torn  &  crucyfyede  ; 

Ow^r  obsequyouse  s^ruyce  to  hym  xulde  be  aplyede  ; 
Where  he  was  Lorde  of  all  &  made  all  thywge  of  nought, 

For  the  synfull  synner  to  late  l  hym  revyuyde 
And  2  for  hys  redempcyon  sett  hys  own  son  at  nought. 


may  be  seyde  &  veryfyede  :  Mankynde  was  dere  bought; 
By  the  pytouse  deth  of  Ihesu  he  hade  hys  remedye  ; 
He    was    purgyde   of    hys   defawte,    £#at    wrechydly   hade 

wrought, 
By  hys  gloryus  Passyon,  /^at  blyssyde  lauatorye. 

1  MS.  lade.  2  Qy.  omit  And,  and  insert  he  before  sett. 


316  MANKIND. 

O    souerence,    I    be-seche    you    yow^r    co;zdycyo#s    to 

rectyfye 
Ande  with  humylite  &  reu^rence  to  haue  a  remocyon 

To  Mis  blyssyde  prynce  Mat  o\\er  natun?  doth  gloryfye, 
That  ye  may  be  partycypable  of  hys  retrz  bucyon.  1 6 

I  haue  be  the.  very  mene  for  yow^r  restytucyon  ; 

Mercy  ys  my  name,  Mat  mornyth  for  yo\v<?r  offence. 
Dyverte  not  yow^r-sylffe  in  tyme  of  temtacyon, 

That  ye  may  be  acceptable  to  Code  at  yow<?r  goyng<? 

hence. 
The   grett  Mercy  of  Code,  //rat  ys  of  most  preemmy- 

nence, 

Be  medyacyon l  of  Owv?r  Lady,  Mat  ys  euer  habu#dante  a 
To  Me  synfull  creature  Mat  wyll  repent  hys  ne[g]ly- 

gence,— 
I  prey  Code,  at  yow^r  most  nede  that  M^rcy  be  yower  de- 

fendawnte  !  24 

In  goode  werkys  I  a-wyse  yow,  souerence,  to  be  perseu^r- 
ante, 

To  puryfye  yow^r  sowlys  that  Mei  be  not  corupte  ; 
For  yower  gostly  enmy  wyll  make  hys  a-va«nte,3 

Yow^r  goode  co«dyczons  yf  he  may  interupte. 

0  je  sou^rens  that  sytt,  &  36  brothern  that  stonde  ryghte 

wppe, 
Pryke  not  yow^r  felycytes  in  thynges  transytorye  ! 

Be-holde  not  Me  erth^,  but  lyfte  yow^r  ey  wppe  ! 
Se  how  Me  hede  Me  members  dayly  do  magnyfye  !  32 

Who  ys  Me  hede,  forsoth,  I  xall  yow  certyfye  : 

1  mene  ow^r  Sauyow^r,  that  was  lykynnyde  to  a  lambe ; 
Ande  hys  sayntey  be  Me  members,  that  dayly  he  doth  satysfye 

Wz't#  Me  precyose  reu^r  that  ruwnyth  from  hys  wombe  ; 
Ther  ys  non  such  foode  be  water  ner  by  lande, 
So  pr^cyouse,  so  gloryouse,  so  redefull  to  ow*?r  entent, 

1  MS.  medytacyon.  2  MS.  habuwdance.  8  MS.  a-va«nce. 


MANKIND.  317 

For  yt  hath  dyssoluyde  Ma«kynde  from  the  bitter  bonde 
Of  the.  mortall  enmye,  [the]  venymouse  l  s^rpente  ;  40 

From  the,  wyche  Code  presume  yow  all  at  the  last  Iugeme»t, 
For  sekyrly  ther  xall  be  a  streat  2  examynacyon  ; 

The  corn  xall  be  sauyde,  the  chaffe  xall  be  brente : 

I  be-sech  yow  hertyly,  haue  this  premedytacyon^.  44 

{.Enter  Myscheffe^ 

MYS.     I  be-seche  yow  hertyly,  leue  yow^r  calc[ul]acyon  ! 
Leue  yow^r  chaffe,  leue  yow^r  corn,  leue  yow^r  dalyacyon  ! 
Yow^r  wytt  ys  lytyll,  yow^r  hede  ys  mekyll,  ye  are  full  of 
predycacyon  ! 

But,  ser,  I  prey  this  questyon  to  claryfye  : 
Dryff-draff,  mysse-masche, 
Sume  was  corn  &  sume  was  chaffe, 
My  dame  seyde  my  name  was  Raffe, 

On-shett  yow^r  loke  &  take  an  halpenye  !  52 

MERCY.  Why  conu?  ^e  hethyr,  broker  ?  3e  werv?  not  dysyryde. 
MYS.     For  a  wynter  corn-threscher,  ser,  I  haue  hyryde  ; 
Ande  }e  sayde  the  corn  xulde  be  sauyde  &  the  chaffe  xulde 
be  fyryde,8 

Ande  he  pr<?uyth  nay,  as  yt  schewth  be  this  werse  : 
Corn  seruit  bredibus,  chaffe  horsibv&,  straw  fyrybusq\\e. 
Thys  ys  as  moche  to  say,  to  yow^r  leude  wndyrstondynge, 
As,  the.  corn  xall  serue  to  brede  at  the.  nexte  bakynge  ; 

Chaff  horsibus  fir-5  reliquid, 
The  chaff  to  horse  xall  be  goode  produce  ; 
Whew  a  ma#  ys  for-colde,  the.  straw  may  be  brent, 
And  so  forth,  &c.  63 

MERCY.     A-voyde,  goode  broker  !  ^e  ben  culpable 
To  interupte  thus  my  talkyng*  delectable. 
MYS.     Ser,  I  haue  no/^er  horse  nor  4  sadyll, 
Therfor  I  may  not  ryde. 

1  MS.  vemynouse.  8  MS.  feryrde. 

a  MS.  sterat.  *  MS.  for.' 


3  I  8  MANKIND. 

MERCY.     Hye  yow  forthe  on  fote,  brother,  in  Codes  name! 
Mvs.     I  say,  ser,  1  am  cuwme  hedyr  to  make  yow  game, 
^et  bade  }e  me  not  go  out  in  tho,  deullys  name, 

Ande  I  wyll  a-byde.  71 

MERCY.1     Ande  how,  mynstrellys  !  pley  the  comyn  trace. 

Ley  on  wz't^  th\  bowys  2  tyll  his  bely  breste.  73 

NOUGHT.     I  put  case  I  breke  my  neke  ;8  how  than? 

NEW.     I  gyff  no  4  force,  by  Sent  Tanne  ! 

Now.     Leppe  5  a-bout  lyuely  !  tho\i  art  a  wyght  man  ; 

Let  ws  be  mery  wyll  we  be  here  ! 
NOUGHT.     Xall  I  breke  my  neke  to  show  yow  sporte  ? 
Now.     Therfor  euer  beware  of  thi  reporte  ! 
NOUGHT.     1  be-schrew  ye  all  !  her  ys  a  schrewde  sorte  ; 

Haue  th&c  at  th&m,  wzt^  a  mery  chere  !  81 

Her  tkei  daunce.    Mercy  sayth  : 

MERCY.     Do  wey  !  dowey  !  this,  reuell,  sers,  do  wey  ! 
Now.     Do  wey  !  goode  Adam,  do  wey  ! 
Thys  ys  no  parte  of  th\n  pley. 

NOUGHT.     3ys>  mary,  I  prey  yow  !  for  I  loue  not  Mis 

rewelynge. 

E.uer  forth,  goode  fader,  I  yow  prey ; 
Be  a  lytyll  }e  may  assay. 
A-non  of  w/tA  yow<?r  clothes  yf  }e  wyll  pray. 

Go  to,  for  I  haue  hade  a  praty  scottlynge.  89 

MERCY.     Nay,  brother,  I  wyll  not  d^unce.6 

NEW.     Yf  }e  wyll,  ser,  my  brother  wyll  make  yow  to  prawnce. 

1  These  lines  begin  a  new  leaf  in  the  MS.  They  seem  highly  inappro- 
priate in  the  mouth  of  Mercy,  cf.  especially  \.  73.  Moreover,  it  is  clear 
from  11.  98,  in  that  the  entrance  of  New  Gyse,  Nowadays,  and  Nought 
was  immediately  preceded  by  Mercy's  use  of  the  words  forming  their 
names.  I  therefore  suppose  that  at  least  one  leaf  of  MS.  (containing  their 
entrance)  has  been  lost  at  this  point,  and  suggest  that  the  command  to  the 
minstrels  be  assigned  to  New  Gyse.  2  MS.  bollys. 

»  MS.  reke.  4  MS.  us.  5  MS.  Leffe. 

«  MS.  dawunce  ;  but  it  often  has  the  Vd-contr action  for  a. 


MANKIND. 

Now.     Wz't^  all  my  herte,  ser,  yf  I  may  yow  a-vfl«nce  ; 
3e  may  assay  be  a  lytylk  trace. 

NOUGHT.     3e>  ser>  W7^  3e  do  we^ '? 
Trace  not  wz't/z  /^em,  be  my  cownsell ; 
For  I  haue  tracyed  suwwhat  to  fell,1  — 

I  tell  [yow]  yt  ys  a  narow  space.  97 

But,  ser,  I  trow,  of  ws  thre  I  herde  you  speke. 
NEW.     Cryste,y  curse  haue  }e  2  /^er-for,  for  I  was  in  slepe  ! 
Now.     A[nd]  I  hade  the  cuppe  8  in  my  honde  redy  to  goo  to 
met. 

Therfor,  ser,  curtly  grett  yow  well. 
MERCY.     Few  word^y  !  few  &  well  sett ! 
NEW.     Ser,  yt  ys  the  new  gyse  &  the  new  iett : 
Many  word^j  &  schortely  sett,  — 

Thys  ys  the  new  gyse,  euery  dele.  105 

MERCY.     Lady,  helpe  !     How  wrechys  delyte  in  thvc  synn- 

f ull 4  weys  ! 

Now.     Say  no[ugh]t  ageyn  the  new  gyse  now-a-days. 
ThoM  xall  fynde  ws  sch[r]ewys  at  all  assays  ; 

Be  ware,  }e  may  son  lyke  a  bofett  ! 

MERCY.     He  was  well  occupyede  that  browte  yow  hether  ! 5 
NOUGHT.     I  harde  yow  call  New  Gyse,  Now-a-days,  Nought, 

—  all  the?,  thre  to-gether. 
Yf  36  sey  that  I  lye,  I  xall  make  yow  to  slyther  ; 

So  take  yow  here  a  trefett !  113 

MERCY.     Say  me  yower  namys  ;  I  know  yow  not. 

NEW.     New  Gyse  I  ! 

[Now.]  Now-a-days  [I]  ! 

1  MS.  fylde  fell.    Kittredge  suggests  that  fylde  -was  -written  by  mistake, 
and  that  the  copyist  then,  observing  that  fylde  neither  rhymed  nor  made 
sense,  added  the  right  -word  but  neglected  to  erase  fylde. 

2  MS.  hade ;  corr.  by  Kittredge,  who  thinks  the  scribe  may  have  caught 
up  hade  from  the  following  line.     I  had  conjectured had  he. 

8  MS.  has  redy  here  as  well  as  later  in  the  line.  . 

*  MS.  has  three  strokes  each  for  nn  and  u. 

6MS,  brethern :  possibly  we  ought  to  read  brether. 


32O  MANKIND. 

[NOUGHT.]  I  Nought ! 

MERCY.     Be  Jh^ju  Cryst,  thai  me  dere  bowte, 

3e  be-tray  many  men  ! 
NEW.     Be-tray?     Nay,  nay,  ser,  nay,  nay  ! 
We  make  them  both  fresch  &  gay. 
But  of  yow^r  name,  ser,  I  yow  prey, 

That  we  may  yow  ken  !  121 

MERCY.     Mercy  ys  my  name  &  my1  denomynacyon  ! 

I  co«seyue  }e  haue  but  a  lytyll  fors  2  in  my  commenycacyon. 

NEW.     Ey,  ey,  yow^r  body  ys  full  of  Englysch  Late«  !  8 

Now.     I  prey  yow  hertyly,  worschypfull  clerke —  125 

I  haue  etu«  a  dysch  full  of  curdes, 

Ande  I  haue  schetu«  yow^r  mowth  full*?  of  turd^J  ; 

Now  opyn  yow^r  sachell  vtith  Late[n]  4  wordw, 

And  sey  me  /Ais  in  clerycall  maner  ! 
Also  I  haue  a  wyf,  her  name  ys  Rackell ; 
Betwyx  her  &  me  was  a  gret  batell, 
Ande  fayne  of  yow  I  wolde  her[e]  tell 

Who  was  tho.  most  master.  133 

NOUGHT.     Thy  wyf,  Rachell,  I  dar<?  ley  xxti  lyse  ! 
Now.     Who  spake  to  the,  foil?     Than  art  not  wyse ! 
Go  &  do  that 5  longyth  to  thin  offyce  : 

OscularQ.fuvidamen.tum  ! 

NOUGHT.     Lo,  master  !  lo,6  here  ys  a  pardon  bely  mett,7  — 
Yt  ys  grawntyde  of  Pope  Pokett : 
Yf  $e  wyll  putt  yow^r  nose  in  hys  wyffor  sokett, 

3e  xall  haue  xl*y  days  of  pardon.  141 

1  By  -written  over  in  MS.  2  MS.  looks  like  fans. 

8  A  note  in  the  margin  says,  Haue  Mis  Englysch  made  in  Laytin : 

I  am  a-ferde  yt  wyll  brest ; 

"  I  rausch,"  quod  the  baeger  on-to  me, 

When  I  stall  a  leg  a  motun, 

Ye  an?  a  strongs  cun«y«g<?  clerke. 

I  trey,  &c. 

*  MS.  late ;  corr.  by  Kittredge.  6  MS.  to. 

0  MS.  doyt.  7  MS.  melt;  yy.  be  lymett. 


MANKIND.  321 

MERCY.     Thys  ydyll l  language  $e  xall  repent ! 

Out  of  this  place  I  wolde  }e  went. 

NEW.     Goo  we  hens  2  all  thre  wz't^  on  assent ; 

My  fadyr  ys  yrke  of  ow^r  eloquence, 
7#er-for  I  wyll  no  lenger  tary. 
Code  brynge  yow,  master,  &  blyssyde  Mary 
To  the  number  of  th&  demonycall  frayry  !  148 


Now.     Eu*r  wynde  !  euer  reyn  ! 

Thow  I  cuwme  new  a-geyn. 

7/fce  deull  put  out  both  your*?  eyen  ! 

Felouse,  go  we  hens  tyght ! 
NOUGHT.     Go  we  hens,  a  deull  wey  ! 
Her  ys  the  dore,  her  ys  the  wey  ! 
Farwell,  ientyll  laffrey, 

I  prey  Code  gyf  yow  goode-nyght !  1 56' 

Extant. 

MERCY.     Thankyde  be  Code,  we  haue  a  fayer  dylyu^rance 

Of  thes  iij  onthryfty  geste-r. 
They  know  full  lytyll  what  ys  ther  ordyna«ce  ; 

I  preve  by  reson  th&\  be  wers  then  bestej  :  160 

A  best  doth  after  hys  naturall  instytucyon  ; 

3e  may  co«seyue  by  ther  dysporte  &  be-hauo«r, 
7%er  ioy  ande  delyte  ys  in  derysyon 

Of  [t]her  owyn  Cryste  to  his  dyshonar.  164 

Thys  co«dycyon  of  leuyng,  yt  ys  preiudycyall  ; 

Be  wan?  thtr-oi,  yt  ys  wers  th&n  ony  felony  or  treson. 
How  may  yt  be  excusyde  be-for  the.  lustyce  of  all, 

Whe«  for  euery  ydyll 4  worde  ws  6  must  yelde  a  reson  ?     1 68 

1  MS.  yeyll,  cf.  1. 168. 

2  MS.  haue ;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 

*  There  is  no  indication  in  MS.  of  the  loss  of  this  line. 

*  MS.  yeyll,  cf.  1.  142. 

6  Perhaps  this  should  be  amended  to  we ;  but,  as  the  construction  us 
must  is  common,  I  retain  the  MS.  reading. 


322  MANKIND. 


They  haue  grett  ca[u]se  th&r-ior  ;  /Ae[i]  wyll  take  no  thought  ; 

But  how  thz.n  whe#  the  angell  of  hewyn  xall  blow  Me 

tru/#pe 
Ande  sey  to  thz  transgressers  that  wykydly  hath  wrought  : 

"  Cum  forth  on-to  yow^r  luge  &  $elde  yow^r  a-cownte  "  ?    1  72 

The«  xall  I,  Mercy,  be-gyn  sor  to  wepe  ; 

NoMer  comfort  nor  cownsell  thzr  xall  no#  be  hade, 
But  such  as  th&i  haue  sowyn,  such  xall  thei  repe  ; 

Th€\  be  wanton  now,  but  thtn  xall  thz\  be  sade.  176 

The  goode  new  gyse  now-a-days  I  wyll  not  dysalow  ; 

I  dyscomende  the,  vycyouse  gyse,  I  prey  haue  me  excusyde, 
I  nede  not  to  speke  of  yt,  yow^r  reson  wyll  tell  it  yow, 

Take   thai1   ys   to   be   takyn   &  leue   that1  ys   to  be 

refusyde  !  180 

,  [Enter  Mankynde.~\ 

MANK.    Of  the  erth  &  of  the  gler  2  we  haue  ow^r  pr0pagacyon: 

By  the  pr<?uydens  of  Code  //ms  be  we  deryvatt, 
To  whos  mercy  I  recomewde  th\s  holl  co«grygacyon  ; 

I  hope  on-to  hys  blysse  ye  be  all  predestynatt  ! 

Eu^ry  maw  for  hys  degre,  I  trust,  xall  be  partycypatt, 
Yf  we  wyll  mortyfye  ow^r  carnall  co«dycyon 

And  o\ver  volu«tarye  dysyres,  thai  euer  be  perverto«nat, 
To  renu«ce  Mes  &  yelde  ws  wnd^r  Codes  provycyon.  188 

My  name  ys  Mankynde  :  I  haue  my  composycyon 

Of  a  body  &  of  a  soull,  of  co«dycyon  co«trarye  ; 
Betwyx  the.  tweyn  ys  a  grett  dyvisyon  ; 

He  thai  xulde  be  as  soiette,8  now  he  hath  the  victory. 

Thys  ys  to  me  a  lamentable  story, 
To  se  my  flesch  of  my  soull  to  haue  gou^mance  : 

Wher  th&  goode-wyff  ys  master  the.  goode-ma«  may  be 

sory.  195 

1  MS.  yt. 

2  MS.  cler;  emend,  by  Kittredge;  but  possibly  cley. 

8  MS.  seietle;  Collier,  H.  E.  D.  P.,  II,  213  has  sojecte. 


MANKIND.  323 

Alasse  !  what  was  thy  fortune  &  tJn  chaunce 1 

To  be  assocyat  wz't^  my  flesch,  that  stynkynge  dunge- 
hyll! 


Lady,  helpe  !  Sou^rens,  yt  doth  my  soull  myche  yll 
To  se  Me  flesch  prosp^rouse  &  Me  soull  trodyn  wnd^r  fote. 

I  xall  go  to  yondyr  man,  &  assay  hym  I  wyll ; 
I  trust  of  gostly  solace  he  wyll  be  my  bote.  201 

[Goes  to  Mercy. .] 

All  heyll,  semely  father  !  }e  be  welcom  to  Mis  house  ! 

Of  Me  very  wysdaum  }e  haue  partycypacyon. 
My  body  wzV*  my  soull  ys  eu^r  querulose  ; 

I  pray  yow  for  sent  charyte  of  yower  supportacyon.  205 

I  be-seche  yow  hertyly  of  yower  gostly  comforte  ; 

I  am  onstedfast  in  lywyng  ;  my  name  ys  Mankynde  ; 
My  gostly  enmy,  Me  deull,  wyll  haue  a  grett  dysporte, 

In  synnfull  2  gydynge  yf  he  may  see  me  ende. 

MERCY.     Cryst  sende  yow  goode  comforte  !  je  be  wel- 

cum,  my  frende  ! 
Stonde  wppe  on  yower  fete  ;  I  prey  yow  aryse. 

My  name  ys  Mercy  ;  ^e  be  to  me  full  hende. 
To  eschew  vyce  I  wyll  yow  avyse.  213 

MANK.     O  Mercy,  of  all  grace  &  virtue  }e  are  Me  well ! 

I  haue  herd*?  tell  of  ryght  worschypfull  clerks, 
3e  be  approxymatt  to  Code  &  nere  of  hys  co«sell, 

He  hat[h]  instytut  you  aboue  all  hys  werk<?.r.  217 

1  Marginal  note  in  MS. : 

I  may  both  syth  &  sobbe,  tMs  ys  a  pituose  reme»*brence 
&  in  my  soulk  sosotyll  in  thy  substance. 

This  may  be  a  part  of  the  three  lines  necessary  to  restore  the  -versifica- 
tion. I  have  indicated  by  dots  the  places  -where,  in  my  opinion,  the  lines 
are  missing. 

2  MS.  has  thret  strokes  each  for  nn  and  u. 


324  MANKIND. 

0  !  yower  louely  worker  to  my  soull  are  swetere  ///en  hony  ! 

MERCY.     The  temtacyon  of  the.  flesch  }e  must  resyst 

lyke  a  ma«, 
For  ther  ys  euer  a  batell  betwyx  the  soull  &  the  body  : 

Vita  hom\nis  est  militia  super  terram.  221 

Oppresse  yower  gostly  enmy  &  be  Crystes  own  knyght ; 

Be  neuer  a  cowarde  ageyn  yower  adu^rsary. 
If  ^e  wyll  be  crownyde,  36  must  ned^r  fyght. 

Intende  well  &  Code  wyll  be  yow  adiutory.  225 

Remembre,  my  frende,  the.  tyme  of  co«tynuance,  — 

So  helpe  me  Code,  yt  ys  but  a  chery-tyme  ! 
Spende  yt  well ;  s^rue  Code  wz't^  hertes  affyance  ; 

Dystempur  not  yower  brayn  with  goode  ale  nor  with  wyn;  229 

'  Mesure  ys  tresur*?,'  Y  for-byde  yow  not  the  vse ; 

Mesure  yow^r-sylf,  euer  be-ware  of  excesse  ; 1 
The  sup^rfluouse  gyse  I  wyll  that  }e  refuse  ; 

Whe«  natur  ys  suffysyde,  a-non  thai  }e  sese  !  233 

Yf  a  ma«  haue  an  hors  &  kepe  hym  not  to  hye, 

He  may  then  reull  hym  at  hys  own  desyere  ; 
Yf  he  be  fede  ou^r-well,  he  wyll  dysobey 

Ande,  in  happe,  cast  his  master  in  the  myre.  237 

NEW.     3e  say  trew,  ser  ;  $e  ar<?  no  fay  tour  ! 

1  haue  fede  my  wyff  so  well  tyll  sche  ys  my  master ; 

I  haue  a  grett  wonde  on  my  hede  ;  lo  !  &  theron  leyth  a 
playster 

Ande  a-no/^er  ther  I  pysse  2  my  peson. 

Ande  my  wyff  were  yovfer  hors,  sche  wolde  yow  all  to-sane. 8 
3e  fede  yower  hors  in  mesur  ;  36  ar  a  wyse  man  ! 
I  trow  *  &  $e  were  the  kynges  palfrey-ma«,6 

A'  goode  horses  6  xulde  be  geson.7  245 

1  These  two  lines  as  one  in  MS.  2  MS.  pyose. 

8  This  appears  to  be  the  reading  of  the  MS  ;  qy.  to-lam. 
*  MS.  It  row.  5  MS.  niarv?  (1). 

6  MS.  A  goode  horse;  emend,  by  Kittredge.          "  MS.  gesunwwa. 


MANKIND.  325 

MANK.     Wher  spekys  this,  felow  ?     Wyll  he  not  com*  nere? 

MERCY.     All  to  son*,  my  brother,  I  fere  me,  for  yow. 
He  was  here  ryght  now,  by  hym  that  bowte  me  dere  ! 

WitA  other  of  hys  felouse,  —  thei  kan  moche  sorow  !         249 

They  wyll  be  here  ryght  son*?  if  I  owt  departs. 

Thynke  on  my  doctryne  ;  that,  xall  be  yower  defence  ; 
Lerne  wyll  I  am  here,  sett  my  word*?j  in  herte  ; 

Wtth-in  a  schorte  space  I  must  nedes  hens.  253 

Now.     The  sonner,  the  leuer,  &  that  be  ewyn  a-non  ! 
I  trow  1  yower  name  ys  do-lytyll,  }e  be  so  longe  fro  horn  ! 
If  30  wolde  go  hens,  we  xall  cum  eu*?rychon, 

Me  thynk  a  full  goode  sorte.2 
3e  haue  leu*?,3  I  dare  well  say  ; 
To  [tjhem  }e  wyll,  go  forth  yower  wey  ; 
Men  haue  lytyll  deynte  of  yower  pley, 

Be-cause  }e  make  no  sporte.  261 

NOUGHT.      Yow*?r  potage  xall  be  for-colde,  ser ;  whe#  wyll 

36  go  dyn*?? 

I  haue  sen*?  a  ma«  lost  xxti  noblys  in  as  lytyll  tyme,  — 
3et  yt  was  not  I,  be  Sent  Gis,  certeyn,4 

For  I  was  neuer  worth  a  pottfull  a'  wortes  sythyn  I  wos 

borne  ! 

My  name  ys  Nought,  I  loue  well  to  make  mery  ; 
I  haue  be  seche  6  with  the  6  comyn  tapster  of  Bury  ; 
I  pleyde  so  longe  the  foil  that  I  am  ewyn  very  wery, 

3yt  xall  I  be  ther  ageyn  to-morne  ! 7  269 

MERCY.     I  haue  moche  can?  for  yow,  my  own  frende  ; 

Yow^r  enmys  wyll  be  here  anon,  thei  made  ther  zvaunte.8 
Thynke  well  in  yower  hert  yower  name  ys  Ma«kynde  ; 

1  MS.  It  row. 

2  MS.  Mo  the.  a  goode  sorte;  emend,  by  Kittredge. 
SMS.  leuer. 

4  This  -word  is  illegible  in  MS. ;  the  last  four  letters  look  like  ntyn. 
6  MS.  sechew.  r  MS.  to  morow. 

6  MS.  Je.  8  MS.  avarice. 


326  MANKIND. 

Be  not  wnkynde  to  Code,  I  prey  yow  ;  be  hys  s<?ruante. 

Be  stedefast  in  co#dycyon  ;  se  je  be  not  varyant ; 
Lose  not  thorow  foly  that,  ys  bowte  so  dere. 

God  wyll  proue  yow  son*? ;  ande,  yf  thai  36  be  constant, 
Of  hys  blysse  p^rpetuall  }e  xall  be  partener.  277 

^e  may  not  haue  yower  intent  at  yower  fyrst  dysyer  ;  — 
Se  the.  grett  pacyence  of  lob  in1  tr/bulacyon  : 

Lyke  as  the.  smyth  trz'eth  ern  in  the  feer, 

So  was  he  lede  by  Codes  vysytacyon.  281 

He  was  of  yower  nature  &  of  yower  fraylyte  ; 2 

Folow  the.  steppys  of  hym,  my  own  swete  son,3 
Ande  sey,  as  he  seyde,  in  yower  trobyll  &  adu^rsyte  : 
Dominus  dedit,  Dominus  abstulit,  sicat  placuit;  sit  #0men 

Domini  benedictum.  285 

More-ou^r,  in  specyall  I  gyue  yow  in  charge, 

Be-war  of  Newgyse,  Now-a-days  &  Nought,  — 

Nyse  in  ther  a-ray,  in  language  thei  be  large  ; 

To  pmierte  yower4  condycyons  all  ther  menys  xall  be 

sowte.  289 

Code  son,  intyrmyse  5  yower-sylfi  not  in  ther  cuwpeny  ; 

Thei  harde  not  a  masse  ///i[s]  twelmonyth,  I  dar^  well 

say; 
Gyff  them  non  audyence,  thei  wyll  tell  yow  many  a  lye  ; 

Do  truly  yower  labours  &  kepe  6  yower  haly-day  ; 

Be-war<?  of  Tytivillus,  for  he  lesyth  no  7  wey, 
That  goth  in-vysybull  &  wyll  not  be  sen  ; 

He   wyll   ronde   in   yower  ere   &   cast   a   nett   be-for 

yower  ey.8 
He  ys  worst  of  them  all,  Code  let  hym  neuer  then  !  297 

i  MS.  & ;  corr.  by  Kittredge.  2  MS.  frayylyte. 

8  Beside  this  line  another  hand  has  -written  ita  factum  est. 

*  MS.  Mer. 

6  Over  this  another  hand  has  written  intromytt  not. 

«  MS.  kefe.  1  MS.  us.  8  MS.  eyn. 


MANKIND.  327 

Yff  36  dysples  Code,  aske  mercy  a-non  ; 

Ellys  Myscheff  wyll  be  redy  to  brace  yow  in  hys  brydyll. 
Kysse  me  now,  my  den?  darlynge,  Code  sche[l]de  yow  from 
yower  fon  ! l 

Do  truly  yower  labur<f  &  be  neu<?r  ydyll.  301 

The  blyssynge  of  Code  be  with  yow  &  with  all  yower2  wor- 

schypfull  me«  ! 
MANK.     Ame»  !  for  sent  charyte,  Amen  !  303 

Now,  blyssyde  be  Ih<?ju,  my  soull  ys  well  sacyatt 

With  the.  mellyfluouse  doctryne  of  this  worschypfull  ma#  ! 

The  rebellyn  of  my  flesch,  now  yt  ys  sup<?ratt, 

Thankyd  3  be  Code  of  the.  co«nynge  that  I  kan  ! 4  307 

Her  wyll  I  sytt  &  tytyll  in  this  papyr 

The  incomparable  astat  of  my  pwmycyon  ! 
Worschypfull  souerence,  I  haue  wretyn  hen? 

The  gloryuse  remewbrance  of  my  nobyll  condycyon.          311 

To  haue  remo[r]s  &  memory  of  my-sylff,  thus  wretyn  yt  ys, 
To  defende  me  from  all  sup^rstycyous  charmys  : 

Memento,  homo,  guod  cinis  es  et  [in]  cinere[m~\  reti&cteris  ; 

Lo  !  I  ber  on  my  bryst  the.  bagge  of  myn  armys  !  315 

\Enter  New  Gyse  at  the  back  of  the  stage.] 

NEW.     The  wether  ys  colde,  Code  send  ws  goode  ferys  ! 
Cum  sancto  sanctus  eris,  &  cum  p&ruerso  5  penterteris, 
Ecce  quam  6  bonum  &  quam  e  iocundum?  quod  the.  deull  to 

the  frerys, 

Ifabitarefratres  in  uno? 

MANK.     Ther  a  felow  speke  ;  wzth  hym  I  wyll  not  mell. 
Thys  erth  with  my  spade  I  xall  assay  to  delffe  ; 

1  MS.  son  ;  corr.  by  Kittredge.  *  MS.  co#zmynge  that  I  kam. 

2  Qy.  omit,  or  read  yow.  6  MS.  pexuerse. 

8  MS.  Thankynge.  6  MS.  quivcn.          ~  MS.  locundie. 

8  MS.  vino,  perhaps  intentionally ;  but  vnion,  -which  is  very  near  the 
MS.  form,  would  rhyme  with  fusyon. 


328  MANKIND. 

To  eschew  ydullnes  l  I  do  thai  myn  own  selffe  ; 

I  prey  Code  sende  2  hys  fusyon  !  323 

[Enter  Novu-a-days,  Nought.} 

Now.     Make  rom,  sers,  for  we  haue  be  longe  ! 

We  wyll  cum  gyf  yow  a  Crystemes  songe. 

NOUGHT.     Now  I  prey  all  tht  yemandry  thai  ys  here 

To  synge  with  ws  with  a  mery  chere  :  ^He    .     ,  337 

Yt  ys  wretyn  with  a  coll  !     Yt  ys  wretyn  with  a  cole  !8 

Cantant  omnes  '. 

Holyke  !  holyke  !  holyke  !  holyke  !  holyke  !  holyke  !  336 

NEW.     Ey,  Mankynde,  Code  spede  yow  with  yower  spade  !  4 

I  xall  tell  yow  of  a  maryage  ; 

I  wolde  yower  mowth  &  hys  ars  that  Mis5  made 

Wer  maryede  iuwctly  together  ! 
MANK.     Hey  yow  hens,  felouse,  with  bredynge  ! 
Leue  yower  derysyon  &  yower  iapyng^  ! 
I  must  ned<?J  labure,  yt  ys  my  lyvynge. 

Now.     What,  ser  I  we  cam^  but  late 6  hethyr.  344 

Xall  all  this  corn  grow  here 
That  }e  xall  haue  the  nexte  jer? 
Yf  yt  be  so,  corn  hade  nede  be  dere, 

Ellys  je  xall  haue  a  pore  lyffe. 
NOUGHT.     A-lasse,  goode  fadere,  Mis  labor  fretyth  yow  to 

tho.  bon<? ; 

But  for  yower  croppe  I  take  grett  mone, 
3e  xall  n&uer  spende  yt  a-lonne, 

I  xall  assay  to  geett  yow  a  wyffe.  352 

How  many  acres  suppose  je  here,  by  estymacyon  ? 
NEW.     Ey  !  how  je  tome  th&  erth  wppe  &  down  ! 

1  MS.  yeullnes.  2  MS.  thai  before  hys. 

8  NEW.  and  Now.  reply  -with  the  same  line ;  each  of  the  four  lines  of  the 
vulgar  song  is  similarly  treated.  <  MS.  space. 

5  MS.  ys.  corr.  by  Kittredge.  6  MS.  eat;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 


MANKIND.  329 

I  haue  be  in  my  days  in  many  goode  town, 

3ett  saw  I  neuer  such  a-no/^er  tyllynge  ! 
MANK.     Why  stonde  je  ydyll?     Yt  ys   pety  that  je  wer* 

born  ! 

Now.     We  xall  bargen  with  yow  &  notker  moke  nor  scorne  : 
Take  a  goode  carte  in  herwest  &  lode  yt  with  yower  corne, 

Ande  what  xall  we  gyf  yow  for  thz.  levynge  ?  360 

NOUGHT.     He  ys  a  goode,  starke  laburer,  he  wolde  fayn  do 

well, 

He  hath  mett  with  the  goode  ma#  Mercy  in  a  schroude  sell ; 
For  all  th\s  he  may  haue  many  a  huwgry  mele. 

3yt  well  ^e  se,  he  ys  polytyke : 
Here  xall  be  goode  corn,  he  may  not  mysse  yt ; 
Yf  he  wyll  haue  reyn,  he  may  ou^r-pysse  yt ; 
Ande  1  yf  he  wyll  haue  compost,2  he  may  ou<?r-blysse  yt 

A  lytyll  with  hys  ers  lyke.  368 

MANK.  Go  &  do  yower  lab«r —  Code  lett  yow  never  the  ! 
Or  wz't^  my  spade  I  xall  yow  dynge,  by  the.  Holy  Tr/nyte  ! 
Haue  36  non  other  ma#  to  moke  but  euer  me  ? 

3e  wolle  haue  me  of  yower  sett ! 
Hye  yow  forth  lyvely,  for  hens  I  wyll  yow  dryffe  ! 

[He  beats  them  with  his  spade^\ 

NEW.     Alas,  my  iewelhv  !  8  I  xall  be  schent  of  my  wyff. 
Now.     A-lasse  !  &  I  am  lyke  neuer  for  to  thryue, 

I  haue  such  a  buffett !  376 

MANK.     Hens,  I  say,  Newgyse,  Now-a-days  &  Nowte  ! 
Yt  was  seyde  be-forn,  all  the.  menys  xulde  4  be  sought 
To  p^ruerte  my  condycions  &  brynge  me  to  nought. 

Hens,  thevys,  je  haue  made  many  a  lesynge  ! 
NOUGHT.     Marryde  I  was  for  colde,  but  now  am  I  warme  ! 
3e  are  ewyll  avysyde,  ser,  for  }e  haue  don^  harme. 
By  Cokkys  body  sakyrde,  I  haue  such  a  peyn  in  my  arme 

I  may  not  chonge  a  ma«  a  ferthynge  !  384 

1  MS.  Arde.  »  MS.  lewellw. 

2  MS.  compasse ;  corr.  by  Kittredge.  *  MS.  xall. 


33O  MANKIND. 

MANK.     Now  I  thanke  Code,  knelynge  on  my  kne  : 

B[l]yssyde  be  hys  name,  he  ys  of  hye  degre  ! 

By  ///is  spade,1  of  hys  grace  thai  he  hath  sente  me, 

Thre  2  of  myn  enmys  I  haue  putt  to  flyght  ; 
3yt  this  instrument,  sou<?rens,  ys  not  made  to  defende. 
Dauide  seyth  :  N&c  in  hasta?  nee  in  gladio  sahtat  Dominus.4 
NOUGHT.     No,  mary,  I  be-schrew  yow,  Yt  ys  in  spadibMS  \ 
Therfor  Crystes  curse  cum  on  yo\\w  hedybus, 

To  sende  yow  lesse  myght !  393 

Extant. 

MANK.     I  pr<?mytt  yow,  /^es  felouse  wyll  no-mon?  cum  here ; 
For  summe  of  Mem,  certewly,  were  su-wme-what  to  rere ! 
My  fadyr,  Mercy,  a-vysyde  me  to  be  of  a  goode  chere 

And  agayn  my  enmys. ma«ly  for  to  fyght.  397 

I  xall  co«vycte  5  Mem,  I  hope,  eu^rychon  ; 

3et  I  say  a-mysse,  I  do  yt  not  a-lon  ; 

Wit/t  the  helpe  of  Me  grace  of  Code  I  re[s]yst  my  fon 

Ande  Mer  malycyuse  herte. 

Wzt#  my  spade  I  wyll  depute,  my  worschypfull 6  sou<?rence, 
Ande  lyue  eu<?r  wz't^  labur^  to  corecte  my  insolence. 
I  xall  go  fett 7  corn  for  my  londe  ;  I  prey  yow  of  pacyence, 

Ryght  son*?  I  xall  reverte.  405 

[Exit :  enter  Myscheff.} 

[Mvs.]     Alas  !  alasse,  thai  euer  I  was  wrought ! 
Alasse  Me  whyll !  I  [am]  wers  //2e[n]  nought ! 
Sythyn  I  was  here,  by  hym  //6at  me  bought, 

I  am  utterly  on-don  ! 

I,  Myscheff,  was  her^  at  the  begy/mynge  of  the  game 
And  arguyde  \\iih  Mercy,  Code  gyff  hym  schame  ! 
He  hath  taught  Mankynde,  wyll  I  haue  be  vane, 

To  fyght  ma«ly  a-geyn  hys  fon  ;  413 

1  MS.  By  Me  fesyde ;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 

2  MS.  iij.  6  MS.  co«vytte. 

8  MS.  hastu.  6  MS.  worschyppull. 

*  MS.  5ns.  "'  MS.  sett. 


MANKIND.  331 

For  with  hys  spade,  that  was  hys  wepyn, 
New  Gyse,  Now-a-days,  Nought,  hath  all  to-betyn. 
I  haue  grett  pyte  to  se  //zem  wepyn. 
Wyll  36  lyst?     I  hen?  them  crye  ! 

[Enter  New  Gyse,  Now-a-days,  Nought^ 

A-lasse  !  a-lasse  !  cuw  hether,  I  xall  be  yow^r  borow  ! 
A-lac  !  a-lac  !  ven !  ven !  cu#z  hethere.  witA  sorowe  ! 
Pesse,  fayer  babys  !  36  xall  haue  a  nappy  11  to-morow ! 

Why  grete  36  so?  why?  421 

NEW.     A-lasse,  master  !  a-lasse  my  przvyte  ! 
MYS.     A  !  wher  ?  A-lake  !  fayer  babe,  ba  me  ! 
A-byde  to  son*?,  I  xall  yt  se. 

Now.     Hen?,  here  !  se  my  hede,  goode  master  ! 
MYS.     Lady,  helpe  !  Sely  darlynge,  ven,  ven! 
I  xall  helpe  the.  of  th\  peyn  ; 
I  xall  smytt  of  th\  hcde  &  sett  yt  on  agayn. 

NOUGHT.     By  Ow^r  Lady,  ser,  a  fay^r  playster  !  429 

Wyll  36  of  \\itA  hys  hede  ?     Yt  ys  a  schreude  charme  ! 
As  for  me  I  haue  non  harme  !  — 
I  were  loth  to  for-bere  myn  arme  ; 

3e  pley,  in  nomine  Patrz's,  choppe  ! 
NEW.     3e  xa^  not  choppe  my  iewellys,  &  I  may  ! 
Now.     3e>  Cristes1  crose  !2  wyll  36  smyght  my  hede  a-wey? 
Ther  wer  on  anon  ! 8  Oute  !  36  xall  not  assay  ! 

I  myght  well  be  callyde  a  foppe !  437 

MYS.     I  kan  choppe  yt  of  &  make  yt  a-gayn. 

NEW.     I  hade  a  schreude  recumbentibus,4  but  I  fele  no  peyn. 

Now.     Ande  my  hede  ys  all  saue  &  holl  agayn. 

Now,  towchynge  the  mater  of  Ma#k)  nde, 
Lett  ws  haue  an  interreccyon  sythen  36  be  cum  hethere. 

Yt  were  goode  to  haue  an  ende.  443 

1  MS.  Craftes. 

2  For  cross,  or,  perhaps,  curse,  cf.  1.  802 
8MS.  wher  on  &  on ;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 
*  MS.  Kcumtentibus. 


332  MANKIND. 

MYS.     How,  how  !  A  mynstrell  !     Know  36  ony  ou[gh]t? 
NOUGHT.      I    kan    pype    in    a   Walsyngham l    wystyll,    I, 

Nought,  Nought. 
MYS.     Blow  a-pase  !   Thou,  xall  brynge  hym  in  vitih  a  flewte.8 

\Tytiv-ullu3  shouts  outside.] 

TYT.     I  com  wzt^  my  legges  vnder  me  ! 
MYS.     How  !  Newgyse,  Now-a-days,  herke  or  I  goo  : 
Whe#  ovffr  hechtt  wen?  to-gether<?  I  spake  of.  Si  dedero* 
NEW.     3e»4  g°  ^i  wey>  we  xa^  gather  mony  on-to. 

Ellys  Mer  6  xall  no-man  hym  se.  45 1 

Now  gostly  to  ovfer  purpos,  worschypfull  sou^rence : 

We  intende  to  gather  mony,  yf  yt  plesse  yower  n<?clygence, 

For  a  ma«  v/M  a  hede  tha\.  of  grett  omwipotens  — 

Now.     Kepe  yovter  tayll,  in  goodnes  I  prey  yow,  good 

broker  ! 

He  ys  a  worschypfull6  ma«,  sers,  sauyng^  yower  reu^rens  ; 
He  louyth  no  grot?j  nor  pens  or7  to-pens, 
Gyf  ws  rede  reyallys  yf  36  wyll  se  hys  abhomynabull  pr<?sens. 
NEW.     Not  so  !     3e  ^at  mow  n°t  pay  /^e  ton,  pay  Me 

toMer.  459 

At  Me  goode-ma»  of  Mis  house  fyrst  we  wyll  assay. 

Code  blysse  yow,  master  !      3e  say  ^  >T^>  3e*  ?e  wy^  no*  sey 

nay. 
Lett  ws  go  by  &  by,  &  do  Mem  pay. 

3e  pay  all  a-lyke,  well  must  36  fare  ! 
NOUGHT.     I  sey,  New  Gyse,  Now-a-days  !     Estis  vos  pecu- 

niatus  f 

I  haue  cryede  a  fayer  wyll,  I  beschrewyow^r  patus  ! 
Now.     Ita  uere,  magister ;  cumwe  forth  now  yower  gatus  ! 

He  ys  a  goodly  ma«,  sers  ;  make  space  &  be-warc  !          467 

1  MS.  has  the  contraction  for  au.  5  MS.  Mei. 

2  Qy.  flowte.  6   MS.  worschyppulL 
«  MS.  Tidedere ;  corr.  by  Kittredge.       7  MS.  of. 

*  MS.  30. 


MANKIND.  333 

[Enter  Titivillus,  arrayed  like  a  devil  and  -with  a  net  in  his  hand.] 

TIT.     Ego  sum  dominantium1    dominus,   &   my   name   ys 

Titivillus  ! 

3e  thai  haue  goode  hors,  to  yow  I  sey  caueatis  ; 
Here  ys  an  abyll  felyschyppe  to  tryse  hym  out  at  yoww  gatw. 

Ego  probo  sic  :  Ser  New  Gys,  lende  me  a  peny  !  471 

LooMitur  ad  Newgyse. 

NEW.     I  haue  a  grett  purse,  ser,  but  I  haue  no  monay  ; 
By  Me  masse,  I  fayll  ij  farthyng^r  of  an  halpeny. 
3yt  hade  I  ten  pownd  2  Mis  nyght  thai  wos. 
TIT.     What  ys  in  th\  purse  ?  Mou  art  a  stout  felow.3 

Loquitva  ad  Now-a-days. 

Now.     The.  deull  haue  [the]  qwyll,  I  am  a  clen  ientyllma//  ! 
I  prey  Code,  I  be  neu^r  wers  storyde  Mew  I  am. 

Yt  xall  be  otherwyse,  I  hope,  or  this,  nyght  passe.  478 

TYT.     Herke  now,  I  say  tho\i  hast  many  a  peny. 

Loquitur  ad  Nought. 

NOUGHT.     No\n\  nobis,  domine,  non  nobis,  by  sent  Deny  ! 
7%e  deull  may  dawnce  in  my  purse  for  ony  peny,  — 
Yt  ys  as  clen  as  a  byrd^j  ars. 

TIT.     Now  I  sey  3et  a-geyn  caueatis  ; 

Here  ys  an  abyll  felyschyppe  to  tryse  hew  of  yower  gater. 

Now,  I  say,  New  Gyse,  Now-a-ddyj  &  Nought, 

Go  &  serche  Me  centre,  anon  Mat  [yt]  be  sow3te, 

Suwme  here,  suwme  Mer,  —  what  yf  36  may  cache  owjte  !  —  487 

Yf  36  fayll  of  hors,  take  what  36  may  ellys. 

NEW.     The«  speke  to  Ma«kynde  for  Me  recuwbentib«j  of 

my  iewellys. 
Now.     Remewbre  my  brokyn  hede,  in  the  worschyppe  of  Me 

v  voli  ellys  !  * 

1  MS.  duancum.  3  Qy.  man. 

2  MS.  xh.  4  Qy_  the  vij  (or  xx)  devellys. 


334  MANKIND. 

NOUGHT.     3e»  goode  ser,  tye  sytica J  in  my  erme  ! 
TIT.     I  know  full  well  what  Mankynde  dyde  to  yow, 
Myschyff  hat[h]  informyde  of  all  the  maters  thorow  ; 
I  xall  venge  yow<?r  quarell,  I  make  Code  a-vow. 

Forth  &  espye  wen?  }e  may  do  harme.  495 

Take  w[ith  yow]  Fyde  2  yf  ^e  wyll  haue  ony  mo. 

I  say,  New  Gyse  !  wether  art  thou  avysyde  to  go  ?  497 

NEW.     Fyrst   I    xall    begyn    at    M [aster]    Hu«tyngton    of 

Sanston  ;3 

Fro  thens  I  xall  go  to  Wyllam  4  Thuolay  of  Hanston  ; 
Ande  so  forthe  to  Pycharde  of  Triw/pyngton  : 

I  wyll  kepe  me  to  /^es  thre.5 

Now.     I  xall  goo  to  Wyllyluzm4  Baken?  of  Walton  ;6 
To  Rycherde  Bollmaw  of  Gayton  ; 
I  xall  span?  Master  Woode  of  Fullburn, 

He  ys  a  noli  me  tangere  /  505 

NOUGHT.     I  xall  goo  to  Wyllyam  Patryke  of  Massyngham  ;4 

I  xall  span?  Master  Alyngton  of  Botysam 

Ande  Hamonde  of  Soffeham.4 

Felous,  cum  forth,  &  go  we  hens  to-gethyr, 

For  drede  of  in  manus  tuas,  qweke  ! " 
NEW.     Syth  we  xall  go,  lett  ws  se  8  well  ware  &  wether  ; 
Yf  we  may  be  take,  we  com  no-more  hethyr  ; 

Lett  ws  con 9  well  ow^r  neke-verse  //^at  we  haue  not  a 

cheke.10  513 

TIT.     Goo  yower  wey,  a  deull  wey,  go  yow^r  wey,  all ! 
I  blysse  yow  wz't#  my  lyfte  hond  ;  foull  yow  be-fall  ! 
Com  a-geyn,  I  werne,  as  son^  as  I  yow  call, 

A[nde]  brynge  yow<?r  a-vantage  in-to  //zis  place. 

1  Qy.  the  syatica  (=  sciatica).  4  MS.  has  the  contraction  for  au. 

2  MS.  lake  w  .  .  .  Fyde.  6  MS.  iij. 

8  MS.  sansten.  6  MS.  Waltom. 

7  The  stanza-structure  can  t>(  restored  by  interchanging  11.  509,  510. 

8  MS.  be.  9  MS.  com.  n  MS.  choke. 


MANKIND.  335 

To  speke  with  Mawkynde  I  wyll  tary  here  this  tyde, 

Ande  assay  hys  goode  purpose  for  to  sett  a-syde. 

The  goode  man,  Mercy,  xall  no  lenger  be  [be]  hys  syde  ; 

I  xall  make  hym  to  dawnce  a-no//£er  trace!  521 

Eui?r  I  go  invysybull,  yt  ys  my  rett, 

Ande  be-for  hys  ey  thus  I  wyll  hange  my  nett 

To  blench  hys  syght  ;  I  hope  to  haue  hys  fote  wett. 

To  yrke  hym  of  hys  labur  I  xall  make  a  frame. 
Thys  borde  xall  be  l  hyde  wnd^r  tha  erth  preuely  ; 
Hys  spade  xall  enter,  I  hope,  on-redyly  ;2 
Be  then  he  hath  a-wayde,8  he  xall  be  uery  angry 

Ande  lose  hys  pacyens,  peyn  of  schame.  529 

I  xall  menge  hys  corne  with  draw  &  with  durnell, 
Yt  xall  not  be  lyke  to  sow  4  nor  to  sell. 
Yondyr  Jie  cow/myth,  I  prey  of  cownsell  ; 

He  xall  wene  grace  were  wane.5  533 

[Enter  Mankynde.] 

MANK.     Now,  Code,  of  hys  mercy,  sende  ws  of  hys  sonde  ! 
I  haue  brought  seed  her  to  sow  with  my  londe  ; 
I  wyll  ron  dylew<?r,  thai 6  here  yt  xall  stonde. 

In  nomine  Patris  6°  Filii'  &"  Sfiir[t"]tus  Sancti,  now  I 

wyll  be-gyn.8 

Thys  londe  ys  so  harde,  yt  makyth  wn-lusty  &  yrke, 
I  xall  sow  my  corn  at  wynter  &  lett  Code  werke. 
A-lasse,  my  corn  ys  lost  !     Here  ys  a  foull  werke. 

I  se  well,  by  tyllynge  lytyll  xall  I  wyn.  541 

Here  I  gyf  wppe  my  spade  for  now  &  for  euer  ; 

Here.  Titivillits  goth  out  with  th<?  spade. 

To  occupye  my  body,  I  wyll  not  putt  me  in  deuer.9 
I  wyll  here  my  ewynsonge  here  or  I  dysseu<?r  ; 

1  MS.  he.  2  MS.  oner  redyly. 

8  Unintelligible;  read,  perhaps,  assayde.  4  MS.  sew. 
5  A  later  hand  has  added  -what  looks  like  Cruis.        6  MS.  yt. 

1  MS.  filius.  8  MS.  le-fyn. 

9  MS.  eeuer. 


336  MANKIND. 

Thys  place  I  assyng*?  as  my  kyrke. 
Her  in  my  kerke  I  knell  on  my  kneys. 
Pater  noster,  qui  es  in  cells. 

[Enter  Tytyvillus.] 

TYT.     I  promes  yow  I  haue  no  lede  on  my  helys, 

I  am  here  a-geyn  to  make  Mis  felow  yrke.  549 

I-wyst,  pesse  !     I  xall  go  to  hys  ere  &  tytyll  Mer-in. 

[Goes  to  Mankynde.'}  , 

A  schorte  preyere  thyrlyth  !  hewyn  ;  of  Mi  preyere  blyn ; 
ThoM  art  holyer  then  euer  was  ony  of  Mi  kyn  ; 

A-ryse  &  avent  Me,  nature  compellys.  553 

MANK.     I  wyll  in-to  Mi[s]  3erde,  sou^rens,  &  cum  a-geyn 

son<?  ; 

For  drede  of  Me  colyke  &  eke  of  the  stone 
I  wyll  go  do  that*  nedes  must  be  don. 

My  bedes  3  xall  be  here  for  who-su/«me-eu(?r  wyll  cuwme.  557 

Exiat. 

TIT.     Mankynde  was  besy  in  hys  prayere,  }et  I  dyde  4  hym 

aryse  ; 

He  is  co«veyde,  be  Cryst !  from  hys  devyn  s^ruyce. 
Whether  ys  he,  trow  36  ?     I-wysse,  I  am  wonder  wyse  : 

•I  have  sent  hym  forth  to  schyte  lesynges. 
Yff  36  haue  ony  syluer,  in  happe  pure  brasse, 
Take  a  lytyll  pow[d]er  of  Parysch  &  cast  oner  hys  face, 
Ande  ewyn  in  Me  howll-flyght  let  hym  passe,  — 

Titivillus  kan  lerne  yow  many  praty  thyng^y  !  565 

I  trow  Ma«kynde  wyll  cu#/  a-geyn  son, 
Or  ellys,  I  fer  me,  ewynsonge  wyll  be  don. 
Hys  bedes  xall  be  trysyde  a-syde,  &  Mat  a-non. 

3e  xall  [se]  a  goode  sport  5  yf  36  wyll  a-byde. 
Mankynde  cuwmyth  a-geyn,  well  fare  he  ! 

1  MS.  thyr  lyth.  *  MS.  ledes.  6  MS.  spert. 

2  MS.  yt.  4  MS.  eyde. 


MANKIND.  337 

I  xall  answers  hym  ad  omnia  quare. 

Ther  xall  be  set  a-broche  a  clerycall  mater  ; 

I  hope  of  hys  purpose  to  sett  hym  a-syde.  573 

[Enter  Mankynde.] 

MANK.     Ewynsong*  hath  be  in  //fce  saynge,  I  trow,  a  fayer 

wyll; 

I  am  yrke  of  yt,  yt  ys  to  longe  be  on  myle. 
Do  wey  ;  I  wyll  no-more  so  oft  on  th&  chyrche-style  ; l 

Be  as  be  may,  I  xall  do  a-noMer. 
Of  labure  &  preyer  I  am  nere  yrke  of  both  ; 
I  wyll  no-more  of  yt,  thowgh  2  Mercy  be  wroth. 
My  hede  ys  uery  heuy,  I  tell  yow  for  soth, 

I  xall  slepe  3  full  my  bely  &  he  were  my  "brother  \  581 

TIT.     Ande  euer  }e  dyde,  for  me  kepe  now  yower  sylence  ! 

Not  a  werde,  I  charge  yow,  peyn  of  xl  pens  ! 

A  praty  4  game  xall  be  schowde  5  yow  or  }e  go  hens. 

3e  may  here  hym  snore,  he  ys  sade  on  6  slepe. 
I-wyst,  pesse  !     The  deull  ys  dede  !    I  xall  go  ronde  in  hys 

ere : 

Alasse,  Mankynde,  alasse  !     Mercy  stown  7  a  mere  ; 
He  ys  ru«n  a-way  fro  hys  master,  thzr  wot  no  maw  where  ; 

More-ouer  he  stale  both  a  hors  &  a  nete.  589 

But  jet  I   herde  say  he  brake   hys  neke   as  he   rode 8  in 

Frawnce ; 
But  I   thynke  he  rydyth  ouer  the  galous 9  to  lern  for  to 

daunce, 

By-cause  of  hys  theft.     That  ys  hys  gou<?rnance ; 
Trust  no-more  on  hym,  he  ys  a  marryde  ma#. 
Mekyll  sorow  with  thi  spade  be-forn  thon  hast  wrought ; 
A-ryse  &  aske  mercy  of  Newgyse,  Now-a-days,  &  Nought. 

1  Lines  576-579  are  added  in  a  note  at  botton  of  page  in  MS. 

2  MS.  then ;  corr.  by  Kittredge.        6  MS.  &  ;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 
8  MS.  skope.  7  That  is,  has  stolen. 

*  MSi  pauty.  8  MS.  reke  ab  herode  ;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 

6  MS.  schende.  8  MS.  galouf. 


338  MANKIND. 

77/ei  c\itn  ;  a-vyse  the  for  the.  best  ;  lett  ther  goode  wyll  be 

sought  ; 
And  th\  own  wyff  brechell  l  &  take  the  a  lemma«.  597 

For-well,  eu^rychon,  for  I  haue  don  my  game, 

For  I  haue  brought  Mankynde  to  myscheff  &  to  schame.          599 

[Exit  TityvUlus^ 

MANK.     Whope  !  who  !  Mercy  hath  brokyn  hys  neke-kycher, 

a  vows, 

Or  he  hangyth  by  the  neke  hye  wppe  on  the.  gallouse. 
A-dew,  fayer  mastere  !     I  wyll  hast  me  to  the.  ale-house, 
Ande  speke  wz't^  Newgyse,  No\v-a.-days  &  Nought, 
A[nde]  geett  me  a  lemma«  \vtiA  a  smattrynge  face. 

[Enter  New  Gyse.] 

NEW.     Make  space  !  for  Cokk<?.y  body  sakyrde,  make  space  ! 
A  ha  !  well  !  on  !  ron  !     Code  gyff  hym  ewyll  grace  ! 

We  were  nere  Sent    Patrykes  wey,   by  hym   thai  me 

bought  !  607 

I  was  twychyde  by  the  neke,  the  game  was  be-gu#ne  ; 
A  grace  was,  the.  halter  brast  a-sondre  —  ecce  stgnum.  !  — 
The  halff  ys  a-bowte  my  neke.     We  hade  a  rere  rune  ! 

Be-ware  !  quod  the  goode-wyff,  whe«  sche  smot  of  hen? 

husbond^-y  hede,  beware  ! 

Myscheff  ys  a  cowvicte  for  he  coude  hys  neke-verse  ; 
My  body  gaff  a  swynge  whe«  I  hynge  wppon  the  casse.2 
A-lasse  !  he  wyll  hange  such  a  lyghtly  man  &  a  fers 

For  stelynge  of  an  horse,  I  prey  Code  gyf  hym  cure  !        615 


Do  wey  tMs  halter  !     What  deull  doth  Ma«kynde  here, 

sorow  ! 

A-lasse,  how  my  neke  8  ys  sore,  I  make  4  a-vowe  ! 
MANK.     ^e  be  welcom,  Newgyse  !     Ser,  what  chere  vti\Ji 

yow  ? 
NEW.     Well,  s<?r,  I  haue  no  cause  to  morn. 

l  Qy.  brethell.  2  So  MS.  »  MS.  nekes.  *  MS.  made. 


MANKIND.  339 

MANK.     What  was  ther  abowte  yoww  neke,  so  Code  yow 

a-mende  ? 

NEW.     In  feyth,  Sent  Andrys  holy  bende  ; 
I  haue  a  lytyll  dyshes  as  yt  plesse  Code  to  sende, 

With  a  ru#nynge  rynge-worme.  623 

{Enter  Now-a-days] 

Now.     Stonde  a  rom,  I  prey  Me,  broMer  myn  ! 

I  haue  laburyde  all  Mis  nyght ;  wew  xall  we  go  dyn  ? 

A  chyrche  her  be-syde  xall  pay  for  ale,  brede  &  wyn  ; 

Lo  !  here  ys  stoffe  wyll  serue. 

NEW.     Now,  by  the  holy  Mary,  tho\i  art  better  marchande 
Maw  I  ! 

[Enter  Nought.] 

NOUGHT.     A-vante,  knavys  !  lett  me  go  by  ! 

I  kan  not  gret  &  I  xulde  sterue  !  630 

{Enter  Myscheff] 

MYS.     Hen?  cuzwmyth  a  man  of  armys ;  why  stonde  ye  so 

styll  ? 

Of  murder  &  mawslawter  I  haue  my  bely-fyll. 
Now.     What,   Myscheff,  haue  ye  bem?  in  presun,  &  yt  be 
yow^r  wyll  ? 

Me  semyth  }e  haue  sco[w]ryde  a  payer  of  fetters. 
MYS.     I  was  chenyde  by  Me  armys,  —  lo  !  I  haue  Mem  hen? ; 
The  chenys  I  brast  a-sundyr  &  kyllyde  Me  iaylen?, 
3e,  ande  hys  fayer  wyff  halsyde  in  a  corners. 

A  !  how  swetly  I  kyssyde  thai l  swete  mowth  of  hers  !       638 

Whe«  I  hade  do,  I  was  myn  owyn  bottler, 

I  brought  a-wey  wit/i  me  both  dysch  &  dublen?. 

Here  ys  a-now  for  me  ;  be  of  goode  chen?. 

^et  well  fare  Me  new  chesance ! 
MANK.     I    aske    mercy   of    New    Gyse,    Now-a-days,     & 

Nought. 
Onys  wzt&  my  spade  I  remember  that  I  faught ; 

i  MS.  the. 


34O  MANKIND. 

I  wyll  make  yow  a-mencU?.r  yf  I  hurt  yow  ought, 

Or  clyde  ony  grevawnce.  646 

NEW.  What  a  deull  lykyth  ye  to  be  of  this  dysposycyon? 
MANK.  I  drempt  Mercy  was  hange,  this  was  my  vysyon, 
Ande  that  to  yow  iij  I  xulde  haue  recors  &  remocyon. 

Now  I  prey  yow  hertyly  of  yower  goode  wyll ; 
I  crye  yow  mercy  of  all  thai  I  dyde  a-mysse. 
Now.  [Aside]     I  sey,  New  Gys,  Nought  !     Tytivillus  made 

all  this  ; 
As  sekyr  as  Code  ys  in  hewyn,  so  yt  ys. 

NOUGHT.     Stonde  wppe  on  yower  feet  !     Why  stonde 

}e  so  styll  ?  654 

NEW.     Master  Myscheff,  we  wyll  yow  exort 
Mankynde  name  in  yower  bok  for  to  report. 
MYS.     I  wyll  not  so  ;   I  wyll  sett  a  corte  ; 
A[nde]  do  yt  in  l  forma  z'urys,  desarde  ! 

Nmv-a-days  tnak  proclamacyon. 

Now.     Oy  yt !     Oy  y}t !     Oyet ! 

All  maner  of  men  &  comu«  women, 

To  the  cort  of  Myschyff  others  cum  or  sen  ; 

Mankynde  xall  retorn,  he  ys  one  of  ow^r  me«  ! 

MYS.     Nought,  cum  forth  !  thou  xall  be  stewerde.  663 

NEW      Master  Myscheff,  hys  syde  gown  may  be  solde  ;  * 
He  may  haue  a  iakett 8  ther-of  &  mony  tolde. 
MANK.     I  wyll  do  for  the.  best,  so  I  haue  no  colde. 

Holde,  I  prey  yow,  &  take  yt  with  yow, 
Ande  let  me  haue  yt  a-geyn  in  ony  4  wyse. 

Nought  scrtltit], 

NEW.     I  p/vmytt  yow  a  fresch  iakett  after  the  new  gyse. 
MANK.     Go  &  do  that  longyth  to  yower  offyce 

A[nde]  spare  that  }e  mow  !  6  67? 

[Exit  New  Gyse] 

1  MS.  se.  8  MS.  rakett.  5  MS.  may. 

2  MS.  tolde.  4  MS.  mony  for  in  ony. 


MANKIND.  341 

NOUGHT.     Holde,  Master  Myscheff,  &  rede  this  \ 
MYS.     Here  ys  blottybus  in  blottis 
Blottorum  blottib\J&  tstis. 

Be-schrew  yow^r  erys,  a  l  fayer  hande  ! 
Now.     3e?  yt  ys  a  goode  rennynge  fyst  ; 2 
Such  an  hande  may  not  be  myst ! 
NOUGHT.     I  xulde  hauc  don  better,  hade  I  wyst. 

MYS.     Take  hede,  sers,  yt  stonde  you  on  hande  !  679 

Garici  tota  8  generalis, 

In  a  place  ther  goode  ale  ys, 

Anno  regni  regitalis 

Edwzrdi  millatene,* 

On  ^estern-day  in  Feuerere,  the  }ere  passyth  5  fully, 
Do  6  Nought  hath  wrytyn,  —  here  ys  ower  Tulli,  — 
Anno  regni  regis  nulli.  686 

Now.     What  how,  Newgyse  !    ThovL  makyst  moche  [taryyng]. 
Tha\.  iakett  xall  not  be  worth  a  ferthynge. 

[.Enter  New  Gyse}. 

NEW.     Out  of  my  wey,  sers,  for  drede  of  fyghtynge  ! 

Lo  !  here  ys  a  feet  tayll,  lyght  to  leppe  a-bowte  ! 
NOUGHT.     Yt  ys  not  schapyn  worth  a  morsell  of  brede  ; 
Ther  ys  to  moche  cloth,  yt  weys  as  ony  lede  ; 
I  xall  goo  &  me«de  yt,  ellys  I  wyll  lose  my  hede. 

Make  space,  sers  ;  lett  me  go  owte.  [Exit.]  694 

MYS.     Mankynde,  cum  hether,  God  sende  yow  the  gowte  ! 
^e  xall  goo  [to]  all  thz.  goode  felouse  in  the.  cu«tre  a-boute, 
On-to  the  goode-wyff  whew  the  goode-ma«  ys  owte  ; 
"  I  wyll,"  say  36  ! 

i  MS.  &.  2  MS.  syft. 

8  A  stroke  aver  o. 

*  An  m  written  above  n ;  the  first  part  of  the  word  may  be  nulla. 

6  Qy-  passyd. 

6  Qy.  Lo ;  or,  as  Kittredge  suggests,  So. 


342  MANKIND. 

MANK.1  I  wyll,  ser. 

NEW.     Then?  arn  but  sex  dedly  synnys  ;  lechery  ys  non, 
As  yt  may  be  verefyede  be  ws  brethellys  eu^rychon. 
^e  xall  goo  robbe,  stell  &  kyll,  as  fast  as  ye  may  gon ; 

"  I  wyll,"  say  36  ! 

MANK.1  I  wyll,  ser.  702 

Now.     On  Sundays,  on  tht  morow,  erly  be-tyme, 
^e  xall  wzt^  ws  to  the  all-house,  erly  to  go  dyn^ ; 
And  forber  2  masse  &  matens,  ow<?rs  &  prime  ; 

"  I  wyll,"  say  36  ! 

MANK.1  I  wyll,  ser. 

MYS.     3e  must  haue  be  yower  syde  a  longe  da  pacem, 
As  trew-me«  ryde  be  the  wey,  for  to  on-brace  them  ; 
Take  the  monay,  kytt  ther  throter,  tans  ouer  face  them  ; 8 

"  I  wyll,"  say  36  ! 

MANK.*  I  wyll,  ser.  710 

[Enter  Nought.'] 

NOUGHT.     Here  ys  a  ioly  iakett ;  how  say  36? 

NEW.     It  ys  a  goode  iake[tt]  of  s[er]u[i]ce  for  a  ma«nys 

body. 
Hay,  doo  ye  \  hay,  whoppe,  whoo  !  go  yower  wey  lyghtly  ; 

3e  are  well  made  for  to  ren  ! 

MYS.     Tydyng<?j  !  tydyng^j  !  I  haue  a-spyede  on  ! 
Hens  vttft  yower  stuff,  fast  we  were  gon  ! 
I  be-schrew  the  last  xall  com  to  hys  horn  ! 

[ALL.]     Ame«  !5  718 

[Enter  Mercy.] 

MERCY.     What,  how,  Mankynde  !  fle 6  />fcat  felyschyppe,  I 

yow  prey. 
MANK.     I  xall   speke  w/'t^  [the]  a-noMer  tyme, — to-morn 

or  the.  next  day ; 

l  MS.  has  only  M.  2  MS.  A  for  bef. 

*  Read  trus  I  (or,  perhaps,  thus)  overpass  them ! 

*  MS.  Ma.  5  MS.  Amew  dicawt  omwes. 

*  MS.  sle  ;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 


MANKIND.  343 

We  xall  goo  forth  to-gether  to  kepe  my  faders  ^er-day. 

A  tapster  !  a  tapster  !  stow,  stall,  stow  ! 
MYS.     A  myscheff  go  with  here,  I  haue  a  foull  fall ! 
Hens  a-wey  fro  me,  or  I  xall  be-schyte  yow  all  ! 
NEW.     What  how,  ostler  !  hostler  !  lende  ws  a  foot-ball. 

Whoppe,whow  !  a-now,  a-now,  a-now  !  726 

MERCY.     My  mynde  ys  dysp^rsyde,  my  body  trywmelyth  as 

Me  aspen  leffe  ; 
The  terys  xuld    trekyll  down  by  my  chekys,  were  not 

yower  reuerence  ; 
Yt  -were  to  me  solace — Me  cruell  vysytacyon  of  deth. 

WztA-out  rude  behav^r  I  kan  [not]  expresse  ///is  inco«- 

venyens ; 

Wepynge,  sythynge  &  sobbynge  were  my  suffycyens  ; 
All  naturall  nutriment  to  me  as  caren  ys  odybull ; 

My    inwarde    aff[l]ixyon    yeldyth    me    tedyouse   wn-to 

yower  presens  ; 
I  kan  not  bere  yt  ewynly,  Manky«de  ys  so  flexibull.  734 

Man  on-kynde,  wher-eu^r  M0u  be  !    for  all  Mis  world  was 

not  apprehe#syble 

To  dyscharge  Min  orygynall  offence,  thraldom  &  captyuyte, 

Tyll  Codes  own  welbylouyde  son  was  obedient  &  passyble,  — 

Eu^ry  droppe  of  his  bloode  wos  schede  to  purge  thi« 

iniq«/te. 

I  dyscomende  &  dysalow  this  oftyn  mutabylyte  !  x 
To  eu^ry  creature  Mou  art  dyspectuose  &  odyble. 

Why  art  thoM  so  on-curtess,  so  incowsyderatt  ?     A-lasse, 

who  is  me  ! 
As  Me  fane  that.  t#myth  viith  Me  wynde,  so  M0u  art  co«- 

u^rtyble.  742 

In  trust  ys  treson,  Mis  2  pranes  ys  not  credyble  ; 

Thys  3  penu?rsyose  ingratytude  I  can  not  rehers  ; 
To  go  ouer  all  Me  holy  corte  of  hewyn,  Mou  art  despectyble, 

l  MS.  imutabylyte.  2  Qy.  th\.  3  Qy.  thy. 


344  MANKIND. 

As  a  nobyll  v<?rsyfyer  makyth  mencyon  in  this  verse  : 
"  Lex  et  natura,  Christus  et  omnia l  iura 

Damnant  in-gratum  ;  lugetur  eumforo.  natum"  748 

O  goode  Lady  &  MoMer  of  Mercy,  haue  pety  &  compasyon 
Of  the  wrechydnes  of  Mankynde,  that  ys  so  wanton  & 

so  frayll ! 
Lett  mercy  excede  iustice  ;  den?  MoMer,  a[d]mytt  this  supply- 

cacyon,  — 
Equyte  2  to  be  leyde  oner,  pety  8  '&  mercy  to  prevayll !      752 

To  sensuall  lyvynge  ys  repr^uable,  that  ys  now-a-days, 

As  be  the  comprehence  of  this  mater  yt  may  be  specy- 

fyede. 

New  Gyse,  Now-a-days,  Nought,  with  ther  allectuose  ways 
They  haue  p<?rvertyde  Mankynde,  my  swet  sun,  I  haue 

well  espyede.  756 

A !  with  thes  cursyde  caytyfs,4  and  I  may,  he  xall  not  long 

indur  ! 
I,  Mercy,  hys  father  gostly,  wyll  precede  forth  &  do  my 

propyrte. 
Lady,   helpe !       This   maner  of   lyvynge   ys    a    detestabull 

plesure  ; 
Vanitas  vanitatum,  all  ys  but  vanyte !  760 

Mercy  xall  neuer  be  convicte  of  hys  onc«rtes  cowdycyon  ; 
Wit/i  wepynge  terys,  be  nyjte  &  be  day,  I  wyll  goo  &  neu^r 

sease  ; 
Xall  I  not  fynde  hym  ?     Yes,  I  hope.     Now  Code  be  my 

protecyon  ! 
My  predylecte  son,  wher  be  ye?     Mankynde,  vbi  esf        764 

MYS.     My  prepotent  father,  whe«  je  sowpe,  sowpe  owt  yower 

messe. 
3e  an?  all  to-glosyede  8  in  yower  termys,  }e  make  many  a  lesse. 

l  MS.  sit  oiat ;  corr.  by  Kittredge.        2  MS.  O  quyte. 

*  MS.  perty  •  corr.  by  Kittredge.          4  MS.  cayftys.        6  MS.  gloryede. 


MANKIND.  345 

Wyll  }e  here  ?  he  cryeth  ouer  Mankynde  vbi  es  ! 
NEW.     Hie,  hyc,  hie,  hie,  hie,  hie,  hie,  hie  ! * 
Thai  ys  to  say,  hen?,  hen?,  here,  ny2  dede  in  the  cryke. 
Yf  ^e  wyll  haue  hym,  goo  &  syke,  syke,  syke  ! 

Syke  not  ouer-longe,  for  losynge  of  yower  mynde  !  771 

Now.     Yf  36  wyll   haue   Mankynde,  how,  domine,  dowme, 

domzne  ! 

3e  must  speke  to  th&  schryue  for  a  cape  corpus, 8 
Ellys  30  must  be  fayn  to  retorn  -with  non  est  inventus. 

How  sey  36,  ser?     My  bolte  ys  schotte. 
NOUGHT.     I  am  doynge  of  my  nedyng*y  ;  be-ware  how  36 

schott ! 

Fy,  fy,  fy  !     I  haue  f owll  a-rayde  my  f ote ! 
Be  wyse  for  schottynge  with  yower  takyllys,  for,  Code  wott, 

My  fote  ys  fowly  ou^r-schott.  779 

MYS.     A  parlement !    a   p#Heme«t  !     Cum  forth,  Nought, 

be  hynde  ! 

A  cownsell  be-lyue  !  I  am  a-ferde  Mercy  wyll  hym  fynde. 
How  sey  36  ?&  what  sey  }e  ?     How  xall  we  do  -wiih  Ma«- 
kynde  ? 

NEW.     Tysche,  a  flyes  weyng<? !     Wyll  36  do  well  ? 
He  wenyth  Mercy  were  honge  for  stelynge  of  a  mere  ; 
Myscheff,  go  sey  to  hym  that  Mercy  sekyth  eu^ry-were, — 
He  wyll  honge  hym-selff,  I  wndyrtake,  for  fere. 

MYS.     I  assent  /-fcer-to  ;  yt  ys  wyttyly  seyde  &  well.          787 

Now.     I  !  Wyppe  yt  in  th\  cote,  a-non  yt  wer  don  ! 
Now,  Sent  Gabryelkj  modyr  saue  th&  clowtes  4  of  th\  schon  ! 
All  the  bokys  in  th&  worlde,  yf  //&ei  hade  be  wndon, 
Cowde  5  not  a  cownselde  ws  bett. 

Hie  exit  Myscheff. .» 

1  A  line  'rhyming  -with  771  is  needed  to  complete  the  stanza. 

2  MS.  my ;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 

8  MS.  cepe  coppus,  -which  may  be  intentional. 

4  MS.  cloMes. 

6  MS.  Howde. 

6  Apparently  he  returns  immediately  with  Mankynde. 


346  MANKIND. 

MYS.     How,  Mankynde  !  cum  &  speke  with  Mercy  !     He  ys 

here  fast  by. 

MANK.     A  roppe  !  a  rope  !  a  rope  !  I  am  not  worthy. 
MYS.     A-non,  a-non,  a-non  !  I  haue  yt  her<?  redy  ; 

With  a  tre  also  that  I  haue  gett.  795 

Holde  the  tre,  Now-a-days  !    Nought,  take  hede  &  be  wyse  ! 
NEW.      Lo  !    Mankynde,   do   as    I    do ;    this   ys  the 1   new 

gyse. 
Gyff  the  roppe  iust  to  thy  2  neke,  this  ys  myn  a-vyse. 

MYS.     Helpe  /^i-sylff,  Nought  ;  lo  !  Mercy  ys  her/?. 
He  skaryth  ws  with  a  balef,3  we  may  no  lengen?  tarye. 
NEW.     Qweke,  qweke,    qweke  !    A-lass,  my   thrott !    I    be- 

schrew  yow,  mary  ! 
A  !  mercy,  Crystej  coppyde  curse  go  with  yow,  —  and  Sent 

Dauy  ! 
A-lasse,  my  wesant  }e  wer  suw-what  to  nere  !  803 

Extant. 

MERCY.     A-ryse,  my  precyose,  redempt  son  !     3e  be  to  me 

full  den?. 
He  ys  4  so  tymerouse,  me  semyth  hys  vytall  spryt  doth 

expy[re] 
MANK.     Alasse  !  I  haue  be  so  bestyally  dysposyde,  I  dare 

not  a-per<?. 
To  se  yower  solacyose5  face    I    am  not  worthy  to 

dysyer.  807 

MERCY.     Blower  crymynose  compley«t  wondyth  my  hert  as  a 

lance. 
Dyspose   yow^r-sylff  mekly   to    aske  mercy,  &   I   wyll 

assent, 
me  nethyr  golde  nor  tresun?,  but  yower  hu;«byll  obey- 

syance, 
The  voluntary  subieccyon  of  yower  hert,  &  I  am  co«tent.  81 1 

1  MS.  th\.  4  MS.  He  ys  ys. 

2  MS.  pye.  5  MS.  solycyose. 
«  MS.  bales. 


MANKIND.  347 

1  MANK.  What !  Aske  mercy  ^et  onys  a-geyn  ?  Alas  yt 
were  a  wyld  2  petysyon  ! 3 

Ewyr  to  offend  &  euer  to  aske  mercy,  thai  ys  a  puerilite. 
Yt  ys  so  abhomi«abyll  to  rehers  my  wekit  *  transgresion, 

I  am  not  worthy  to  haue  mercy,  be  no  possibilite.  815 

MERCY.     O  Ma«kend,  my  singler  solas,  th\s  is  a  lamentabyll 

excuse. 
The  dolorus  fares s  of  my  hert,  how  the\  begyn  to  a- 

mownte  ! 
O  blyssed  Ihesu,  help  /^ou  //zis  synfull  synner  to  reduce  :6 

Ira  hec  tymutaes  dexire  excelsi  -veint  Impios  et  non  suntJ  8 1 9 

A-ryse  &  aske  mercy,  Ma^kend,  &  be  associat  to  me  ! 

Thy  deth  schall  be  my  hewynesse  !     Alas,  tys  pety  yt 

schuld  be  Mus  ! 

Thy  obstinacy  wyll  exclude  [the]  fro  thz  gloria  p<?r[p]etuite. 
3et,  for  my  lofe  ope  8  thy  lyppys  &  sey  miserere  mei, 

Deus !  823 

MANK.     The  egall  lustyse  of  God  wyll  not  p^rmytte  sych  a 

synfull  wrech 

To  be  reuyu[y]d  &  restoryd  a-geyn  ;  yt  were  impossibyll. 
MERCY.  The  Justice  of  God  wyll  as  I  wyll,  as  hym-sylfe 

doth  pre-cyse  : 9 
N0/<? 10   mortem,  peccator'is,    inquit,11   yff  he  wyll   [be] 

reducyble.  827 

1  The  copyist  remarks  that  the p age  beginning  here  seems  to  be  in  a  dif- 
ferent hand  from  what  precedes.     The  remark  probably  applies  to  the 
•whole  remaining  part  of  the  play  ;  certainly  from  here  on  the  spelling  is 
very  different. 

2  / take  this  to  be  vild  (=  vile.)          3  MS.  pety  syn. 
4  MS.  appears  to  have  werut,  but  is  almost  illegible. 
6  MS.  seres. 

«  MS.  redeme  ;  corr.  by  Kittredge,  cf.  1.  827. 
i  So  MS. :  see  Notes,  vol.  III.  8  MS.  ofe. 

9  Precyse  does  not  rhyme  •  qy.  preche  or,  as  Kittredge  suggests,  pr#cysely 
teche. 

1°  MS.  Mole.  n  MS.  apparently  inquis. 


348  MANKIND. 

MANK.     7%a«,  mercy,  good  Mercy  !     What  ys  a  maw  wyth- 

owt  Mercy  ? 

Lytyll  ys  our  parte  of  paradyse  where  M^rcy  ne  were. 
Good  Mercy,  excuse  /^e  ineuetabyll  obiecc/on  of  my  gostly 

enmy  ; 
The  prowerbe  seyth,  /^e  trewth  tryith  Me  sylfe.    Alas,  I 

haue  mech  care  !  831 

MERCY.     God  wyll  not  make  ^ow  preuy  on-to  l  hys  last  iuge- 

me#t : 

lustyce  &  Equite  xall  be  fortyfyid,  J  wyll  not  denye  ; 
Trowthe2  may  not  so  cruelly  precede  in  hys  streyt  argument3 
But  that  M^rcy  schall  rewle  the  mater  wzt^-owte  con- 

trouersaye.  835 

Ryse  *  now  &  go  with  me  in  thys  deambulatorye. 

Inclyne  yowur  capacite,  my  doctrine  ys  co«uenie«t.5 
Synne  not  in  hope  of  M^rcy  ;  That  ys  a  cryme  notorie  !6 

To  truste  oumnoche  in  a  pmice  yt  ys  not  expedient,        839 

In  hope  whew  36  syn7  to  haue  mm:y;  be-ware  of  that  awen- 

ture  ; 
The  8  good  Lord  seyd  to  the.  lecherus  woman  of  Cha- 

nane,  — 
The  holy  gospell  ys  the  awtorite,  as  we  rede  in  Scrypture,  — 

"  Vade  et  tarn  amplius9  noli peccare"  843 

Cryst  pr^seruyt  this  synfull  womaw  takyn  in  a-wowtry, 

He  seyde  to  here  /Aeis  wordes  :  "  Go  &  syn  no-more." 

1  MS.  peruyon  to. 

2  MS.  Growthe. 

8  MS.  apparently  acgmmes;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 

*  MS.  Byse. 

6  MS.  My  doctrine  ys  co«uenie«t  Inclyne  yowur  capacite. 

•  MS.  notaries. 

1  MS.  }e  thynke  after  syn ;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 

8  MS.  Then. 

9  MS.  ism  amperhees. 


MANKIND.  349 

So  to  yow  :  Go  &  syn  no-more  ;  be-ware  of  weyn  cowfidews 

of  Mercy  ; 
Offend  not  a  prince  on  trust  of  hys  fauowr,  as  I l  seyd 

before.  847 

Yf  36  fele  yo#r-sylfe  trappyd  in  th&  snare  of  yo«r  gostly 

enmy, 

Aske  mercy  a-non  ;  be-ware  of  the.  co#tynuance  ;  , 

Whyll  a  wond  ys  fresch  yt  is  pr^wyd  curabyll  be  surgery, 
T/iat,  yf  yt  procede  ouyrlong*,  yt  ys  cawse  of  gret  grev- 

anc^.2  851 

MANK.     To  aske  mercy  &  to  haue,  —  Ms  ys  a  lyberall  pos- 

sescion  ! 
Schall  Mis  expedyci#j  3  petycion  euer  be  a-lowyd,  as  je 

haue  in-syght? 
MERCY.     In  Mis   presente  lyfe  nwcy  ys  plente  tyll  deth 

makyth  hys  dywysion ; 
But  wha#  36  be  go,  vsyue  ad  minimum  quzdrantem  *  JQ 

scha[ll]  rekyn  Mis  ryght.  855 

Aske  mercy  &  haue,  whyll  Me  body  wz'tA  the.  sow[l]e  hath 

hys  annexio«  ; 
Yf  36  tarye  tyll  yo«r  dysesse,  36  may  hap  of  your  desyre 

to  mysse  ; 
Be  repentant  here,  trust  not  the.  ower  of  deth  ;  thynke  on  /^is 

lessu« : 
Ecce 6  nunc  tempus  acceptabile*  ecce  nunc  dies  salut\s  \  859 

All  the  wertu  in  the  wor[l]d  yf  36  myght  comprehend, 

'Your  merytej  were  not  premyabyll  to  tho.  blys  a-boue, 
Not  to  Me  holest 7  ioy  of  heuyn  of  yo«r  proper  efforte  to 

ascend  ; 
W/'tfc  M^rcy  36  may,  —  I  tell  yow  no  fabyll,  Scrypture 

doth  prove.8  863 

1  MS.  he.  6  MS.  Este. 

2  MS.  grewang*.  6  MS.  aucptabile. 

8  MS.  expediciw.  7  Qy.  loliest  or  lest. 

*  MS.  qwadrute[m].  8  MS.  prewe. 


350  MANKIND. 

MANK.     O  Mercy,  my  solati«j  1  solas  &  synguler  recreatory, 
My  praiilecte  specyall,  }e  are  worthy  to  haue  my  lowe  ; 

For,  wyth-owte  deserte  &  menys  supplicatorie, 

3e  be-cow  pacient  to  my  inexcusabyll 2  reproue.  867 

A  !  yt  siremyth s  my  brest  to  thynk  how  on-wysely  I  haue 

wroght ! 
Tytiuilly,  thai  goth  invisibele,  hyng^  hys  nett  be-fore  my 

eye, 
And,  by  hys  fantasticall  visionys  sedulously  *  sowght, 

He5  Newgyse,  Now-a-days,  Nought  causyd  me  to  obey.  871 

MERCY.     Ma«kend,  }e  were  obliuyous  of  my  doctrine  mary- 
torye  ; 

I  seyd  be-fore,  Titiuilly  wold  a-say  yow  a  bronte.6 
Be-ware  fro  hens-forth  of  hys  fablys  delusory, 

The  prowerbe  seyth  :  lacula  p&rfectitm  non  ledunt?         875 

3e  haue  iij  adu^rsarys,  —  he  ys  master  of  [t]hem  all,  — 

That  ys  to  sey,  the  dewell,  tht  world,8  tho.  flesch  ;  &  [I] 

/^e  tell 
That9  Newgyse,  Now-a-days  &  Nought,  th&  world  we  may 

[t]hem  call  ; 
And  propy[r]lly  Titiuilly  syngnyf[ie]th  the  fend  of  helle  ;  879 

The  flesch,  —  Mat  ys  the.  vnclene  cowcupisens  of  ysur  body; 

These  be  your  iij  gostly  enmys  in  whom  36  haue  put  your 

co«fidens ; 
Thei  browt  yow  to  Myscheffe  to  co«clude  ^our  temperull  glory, 

As  yt  hath  be  schewyd  th\s  worschypfyll 10  audiens.  883 

1  MS.  suati7«  ;  corr.  by  Kittredge,  cf.  ).  807. 

2  MS.  inexousobyll ;  inexorable  may  be  better. 

8  Kittredge  suggests  sore  nyeth  (=  noieth) ;  streinyth  -would  be  closer 
to  MS. 

<  MS.  sedeculy.  6  MS.  Be. 

'  After  bronte  is  apparently  an  a. 
1  MS.  periectnmmus  ledict«r;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 
8  MS.  would.  »  MS.  The. 

10  MS.  worschyppyll. 


MANKIND.  351 

Remewbyr  how  redy  I  was  to  help  }ow  ;  fro  sweche  I  was 

not  dangerous  ; 

Wherfore,  good  sunne,  absteyne  fro  syn  eu^r-more  after  thz'j. 
^e  may  both  saue  &  spyll  yower  sowle,  thai  ys  so  precyvs 

Liber e  velle,  liber e  -velle^  God  may  not  deny,  i-wys.  887 

Beware  of  Titiuilly  \\iih  hys  net  &  of  all  hys  enmys  2  wyll, 
Of   jour  synfull   delectacion  thai   grewyth  jour  gostly 

swbstans. 
$our  body  ys  your  enmy,  let  hym  not  haue  hys  wyll. 

Tflke  your  lewe  whan  36  wyll,  God  send  30 w  good  per- 

seu^rans  ! 8  891 

[MANK.]    Syth  I  schall  departe,  blyse  me,  fad^r  her  thtn  I  go. 

God  send  ws  all  plente  of  hys  gret  mercy ! 
MERCY.     Ztominus  4  custodi\a~\t-te  ab  omni  malo  5 

/«  nomine  Patrts  [et~\  Filii*>  et  Spir\\.us  Sanrtz".    Amen!  895 

Hie  exit  MarJtende. 

Wyrschep[f]yll  sofereyns,  I  haue  do  my  pr^pirte  ; 

Mankynd  ys  deliu<?ryd  by  my  sun^rall7  patrocynye. 
God  pres^rue  hym  fro  all  wyckyd  captiuite 

And  se«d  hym  grace  hys  sensuall  condicion  to  mortifye !  899 

Now,  for  hys  lowe  thai  for  vs  receyuyd  hys  humanite, 
Serche  8  your  condicyo«s  w/tA  dew  examiwaciow  ! 

Thynke  &  remembyr  thz  world  ys  but  a  wanite, 

As  yt  ys  pr<?wyd  daly  by  diu^rse  mutacyon.  903 

Ma«kend  ys  wrechyd,  he  hath  sufficyent  prowe  ; 

There-fore  God  [kepe]  3ow  all,  per  suam  mtsericordiam, 
Thai  ye  may  be  pleseray  9  wiih  the  angell[es]  abowe, 

And  hawe  to  jour  porcyon  vitam  eternam.    Amen  !         907 

1  MS.  Libere  welle  leibere  welle ;  corr.  by  Kittredge. 

2  Possibly  enuius.  6  MS.  filiis. 

8  MS.  jvrseutfrnas.  7  Kittredge  suggests  special. 

*  MS.  famine.  »  MS.  Serge. 

6  MS.  mali.  9  Perhaps  partakers. 


352  MANKIND. 


FYNIS. 

C  .  .  uber  fi  q1  cul  .  .  costu  forte  queret«r 

h  .  y  .  gham  <\uod  omtche  dices  sup  oia  costa.1 

1  This  is  almost  entirely  effaced.    At  the  end  of  Mind,  Will  and  Under- 
standing, the  same  lines  occur  in  this  form  : 

O  liber,  siquis  cui  costas  qw^retur, 
Hyngham  quod  monacho  dices  super  omnia.  costi. 
Query: 

0  liber,  si  quidem  cui  constes  forte  queretur, 
Hyngham  quod  monacho  dices  super  omnia  constas. 

(Kittredge.) 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 


Printed  from  the  Roxburghe  Club  reprint  (London,  1817).  A  collation  with  the 
original,  in  the  Library  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  shows  only  two  errors  in  this 
reprint.  The  editions  of  Collier  (Coll.)  and  Hazlitt  (Haz.),  in  Dodsley's  "Old 
Plays,"  are  quoted  in  the  footnotes  only  for  important  variants  and  emendations. 
Punctuation,  capitals,  and  division  into  stanzas  are  mine  ;  other  deviations  from 
the  Roxburghe  reprint  (R.)  are  indicated  as  they  occur. 


[Dramatis  Personae. 

MUNDUS,  also  called  THE  WORLDE. 

INFANS,  also  called  WANTON,  LUST  AND  LYKYNGE,  MANHODE,  SHAME, 
and  AGE. 

CONSCYENCE.         FOLYE.         PERSEUERAUNCE.] 

Here  begynneth  a  propre  newe  Interlude  of  the 
worlde  and  the  chylde  /  otherwyse  called  [Mundus 
&  Infans]1  &  it  sheweth  of  the  estate  of  Chyldehode 
and  Manhode.2 

\_Mundus,  seated  on  his  throne] 

MUNDUS.     Syrs,  seace  of  your  sawes,  what-so  befall, 
And  loke  ye  bow  bonerly  to  my  byddynge, 

For  I  am  ruler  of  realmes,  I  warne  you  all, 
And  ouer  all  f  odys  3  I  am  kynge,  — 

For  I  am  kynge  and  well  knowen  in  these  realmes  rounde. 
I  haue  also  paleys  *  ypyght ; 

1  These  brackets  are  in  R. 

2  Beneath  this  title  R.  has  a  -wood-cut  representing  a  crowned  king  seated 
on  a  throne  and  holding  as  symbols  of  his  power  a  sceptre  and  a  ball  sur- 
mounted by  a  cross.     Above  the  cut  is  his  name,  Mundus. 

8  Coll.  suggests  folys. 

4  A  -word,  perhaps  princely,  has  fallen  out. 


354  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

I  haue  stedes  in  stable  stalworthe  and  stronge, 

Also  stretes  and  strondes  full  strongely  ydyght ;  8 

For  all  the  Worlde  l  wyde,  I  wote  well,  is  my  name  ; 

All  rychesse,  redely,  it  renneth  in  me, 
All  pleasure  worldely,  both  myrthe  and  game. 

My-selfe  semely  in  sale  I  sende  with  you  to  be,  1 2 

For  I  am  the  Worlde,  I  warne  you  all, 

Prynce  of  powere  and  of  plente. 
He  that  cometh  not  whan  I  do  hym  call, 

I  shall  hym  smyte  with  pouerte,  16 

For  pouerte  I  parte  in  many  a  place 

To  them  that  wyll  not  obedyent  be. 
I  am  a  kynge  in  euery  case  ; 
Me  thynketh  I  am  a  2  god  of  grace,  20 

The  floure  of  vertu  foloweth  me. 

Lo  !  here  I  sette  semely  in  se ! 
I  commaunde  you  all  obedyent  be, 

And  with  fre  wyll  ye  folowe  me.  24 

[Enter  Infans.'] 

INFANS.     Cryst,  our  kynge,  grau«te  you  clerly  to  know  the 

case ! 

To  meue  of  this  mater  that  is  in  my  mynde, 
Clerely  [to]  declare  it  Cryst  graunte  me  grace !  27 

3 

Now,  semely  syrs,  beholde  on  me 

How  mankynde  doth  begynne  : 
I  am  a  chylde,  as  you  may  se, 

Goten  in  game  and  in  grete  synne.  3 1 

Fourty  4  wekes  my  moder  me  founde, 

Flesshe  and  blode  my  fode  was  tho  ; 

1  R.  storlde. 

2  R.  omits  a ;  original  has  it,  so  also  Coll.,  Haz. 
8  A  line  out?  *  R.  xl. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  355 

Whan  I  was  rype  from  her  to  founde, 

In  peryll  of  dethe  we  stode  bothe  two.  35 

Now  l  to  seke  dethe  I  must  begyn, 

For  to  passe  that  strayte  passage ; 
For  body  and  soule  that  shall  than  twynne 

And  make  a  partynge  of  that  maryage.  39 

Fourty  wekes  I  was  frely  fedde 

Within  my  moders  wombe  ; 2 
Full  oft  of  dethe  she  was  adred 

Whan  that  I  sholde  parte  her  from.  43 

Now  in  to  the  Worlde  she  hathe  me  sent, 

Poore  and  naked  as  ye  may  se  ; 
I  am  not  worthely  wrapped  nor  went, 

But  powerly  prycked  in  pouerte.  47 

Now  in  to  the  Worlde  wyll  I  wende, 

Some  comforte  of  hym  for  to  craue. 

[Goes  to  Mundus] 

All  hayle,  comely  crowned  kynge  ! 

God,  that  all  made,  you  se  and  saue  !  51 

MuND.8     Welcome,  fayre  chylde  !     What  is  thy  name  ? 
INF.     I  wote  not,  syr,  withouten  blame  ; 
But  ofte  tyme  my  moder,  in  her  game, 

Called  me  Dalyaunce. 
MUND.     Dalyaunce,  my  swete  chylde? 
It  is  a  name  that  is  ryght  wylde, 
For,  whan  thou  waxest  olde, 

It  is  a  name  of  no  substaunce.  59 

But,  my  fayre  chylde,  what  woldest  thou  haue? 
INF.     Syr,  of  some  comforte  I  you  craue, 
Mete  and  clothe  my  lyfe  to  saue  ; 

And  I  your  true  seruaunt  shall  be. 

1  R.  Oow.  2  R.  possessyon. 

8  Here  and  below  R.  spells  the  speakers'1  names  in  full. 


356  MUNDUS    ET.  INFANS. 

MUND.     Now,  fayre  chylde,  I  graunte  the  thync  askynge  ; 

I  wyll  the  fynde  whyle  thou  art  yinge, 

So  thou  wylte  be  obedyent  to  my  byddynge. 

These  garmentes  gaye  I  gyue  to  the  ;  67 

And  also  I  gyue  to  the  a  name 

And  clepe  the  Wanton,  in  euery  game, 

Tyll  xiiij  yere  be  come  and  gone,  — 

And  than  come  agayne  to  me. 
WANTON.     Gramercy,  Worlde,  for  myne  araye  ! 
For  now  I  purpose  me  to  playe. 
MUNDUS.     Fare-well,  fayre  chylde,  and  haue  good-daye  ! 

All  rychelesnesse  is  kynde  for  the.  75 

WANTON.     A  ha  !     Wanton  is  my  name  ! 
I  can  many  a  quaynte  game  : 
Lo,  my  toppe  I  dryue  in  same, — 

Se,  it  torneth  rounde  ! 
I  can  with  my  scorge-stycke 
My  felowe  vpon  the  heed  hytte, 
And  wyghtly  from  hym  make  a  skyppe, 

And  blere  on  hym  my  tonge.  83 

If  brother  or  syster  do  me  chyde, 
I  wyll  scratche  and  also  byte  ; 
I  can  crye  and  also  kyke 

And  mocke  them  all  be  rewe. 
If  fader  or  moder  wyll  me  smyte, 
I  wyll  wrynge  with  my  lyppe 
And  lyghtly  from  hym  make  a  skyppe 

And  call  my  dame  shrewe.  91 

A  ha  !  a  newe  game  haue  I  founde  ! 
Se  this  gynne,  it  renneth  rounde  ; 
And  here  another  haue  I  founde  ; 

And  yet  mo  can  I  fynde. 
I  can  mowe  on  a  man  ; 
And  make  a  lesynge  well  I  can, 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  357 

And  mayntayne  it  ryght  well  than,  — 

This  connynge  came  me  of  kynde.  99 

Ye,  syrs,  I  can  well  gelde  a  snayle  ; 
And  catche  a  cowe  by  the  tayle,1  — 

This  is  a  fayre  connynge  ; 
I  can  daunce  and  also  skyppe  ; 
I  can  playe  at  the  chery-pytte  ; 
And  I  can  wystell  you  a  fytte, 

Syres,  in  a  wylowe  2  ryne.  106 

Ye,  syrs,  and  euery  daye 

Whan  I  to  scole  shall  take  the  waye, 

Some  good  mannes  gardyn  I  wyll  assaye, 

Perys  and  plommes  to  plucke. 
I  can  spye  a  sparowes  nest. 
I  wyll  not  go  to  8  scole  but  whan  me  lest, 
For  there  begynneth  a  sory  fest 

Whan  the  mayster  sholde  lyfte  my  docke.  114 

But,  syrs,  whan  I  was  seuen  yere  of  age, 
I  was  sent  to  the  Worlde  to  take  wage, 
And  this  seuen  yere  I  haue  ben  his  page 

And  kept  his  commaundement. 
Now  I  wyll  wende  to  the  Worlde,  that  worthy  emperou[r]. 

[He  approaches  Mundus.] 

Hayle,  lorde  of  grete  honour! 

This  vij  yere  I  haue  serued  you  in  hall  and  in  boure 

With  all  my  trewe  entent.  122 

MUND.     Now,  welcome,  Wanton,  my  derlynge  dere  ! 
A  newe  name  I  shall  gyue  the  here  : 
Loue,  Lust,  Lykynge,  in-fere,  — 

These  thy  names  they  shall  be,  — 
All  game  and  gle  and  gladnes, 
All  loue-longynge  in  lewdnes. 

l  Line  missing?  2  R.  whylowe.  3  R.  fo. 


358  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

This  seuen  yere  forsake  all  sadnes, 

And  than  come  agayne  to  me.  130 

LUST-AND-LYKYNG.     A  ha  !  now  Lust  and   Lykyng  is  my 
name  ! 

I  am  as  fresshe  as  flourys  in  Maye  ; 
I  am  semely  shapen  in  same, 

And  proudely  apperelde  in  garmentes  gaye  ;  134 

My  lokes  ben  full  louely  to  a  ladyes  eye, 

And  in  loue-longynge  my  harte  is  sore  sette  ; 
Myght  I  fynde  a  fode  that  were  fayre  and  fre, 

To  lye  in  hell  tell  domysdaye  for  loue  1  I  wolde  not  let, 

My  loue  for  to  wynne. 
All  game  and  gle, 
All  myrthe  and  melody e, 
All  reuell  and  ribaudye,2 

And  of  bost  wyll  I  neuer  blynne.  143 

But,  syrs,  I  am  now  8  xix  wynter  olde ; 
I-vvys,  I  waxe  wonder  bolde. 
Now  I  wyll  go  to  the  Worlde, 

A  heygher  seyence  to  assaye. 
For  the  Worlde  wyll  me  auaunce, 
I  wyll  kepe  his  gouernaunce  ; 
For  he  is  a  kynge  in  all  substaunce, 

His  plesynge  wyll  I  praye.4  151 

[fie  approaches  Mundus^\ 

All  hayle,  mayster,  full  of  myght ! 

I  haue  you  serued  bothe  day  and  nyght ; 

Now  I  come  5  as  I  you  behyght,  — 

One  and  twenty  wynter  is  comen  and  gone. 
MUND.     Now,  welcome,  Loue,  Lust  and  Lykynge  ! 
For  thou  hast  ben  obedyent  to  my  byddynge, 

1  R.  foue ;  Kittredge  suggests  the  omission  of  for  loue. 

2  R.  ryotte;  Kittredge  suggests:  All  ryotte  and  reuellrye. 
8  So  in  original ;  R.  now  am ;  Coll.,  Haz.  now  I  am. 

4  The  order  of\\.  150,  151  is  reversed  in  R. 

5  K.  comen. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  359 

I  encreace  the  in  all  thynge 

And  myghtly  I  make  the  a  man.  159 

Manhode  myghty  shall  be  thy  name  ; 

Bere  the  prest  in  euery  game, 

And  wayte  well  that  thou  suffre  no  shame 

Neyther  for  londe  nor  for  rente. 
Yf  ony  man  wolde  wayte  the  with  blame, 

Withstonde  hym  with  thy  hole  entent ; 
Full  sharpely  thou  bete  hym  to  shame 

With  dough tynesse  of  dente  ! 1  167 

For  of  one  thynge,  Manhode,  I  warne  the  : 

I  am  moost  of  bounte, 

For  seuen  kynges  sewen  me, 

Bothe  by  daye  and  nyght  ; 
One  of  them  is  the  kynge  of  Pryde  ; 
The  kynge  of  Enuy,  doughty  in  dede  ; 
The  kynge  of  Wrathe,  that  boldely  wyll  abyde, 

For  mykyll  is  his  myght ;  175 

The  kynge  of  Couetous  '2  is  the  fourt[h]e  ; 
The  fyfte  kynge  he  hyght  Slouthe  ; 
The  kynge  of  Glotony  hath  no  iolyte 

There  pouerte  is  pyght ; 
Lechery  is  the  seuenth  kynge, 
All  men  in  hym  haue  grete  delytynge, 
Therfore  worshyp  hym  aboue  all  thynge, 

Manhode,  with  all  thy  myght.  183 

MANH.     Yes,  syr  kynge,  without  lesynge 

It  shall  be  wrought ! 
Had  I  knowynge  of  the  fyrst  kynge,8 

Well  ioyen  I  mought.  187 

1  R.  dede. 

2  The  author  evidently  pronounced  this  Covetyse  (cf.  11.  412,  441)  ;  but, 
as  this  spelling  occurs  many  times  and  Couetys  only  once,  it  seems  best  to 
retain  the  spelling  of  the  text. 

3  After  kynge,  R.  repeats  without  lesynge  from  1.  184. 


360  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

MUND.     The  fyrste  kynge  hyght  Pryde. 

MANH.     A,  lorde  !  with  hym  fayne  wolde  I  byde. 

MUND.     Ye,  but  woldest  thou  serue  hym  truely  in  euery  tyde? 

MANH.     Ye,  syr  ;  and  therto  my  trouthe  I  plyght. 
That  I  shall  truely  Pryde  present 
I  swere  by  Saynt  Thomas  of  Kent ; 
To  serue  hym  truely  is  myn  entent, 

With  mayne  and  all  my  myght.  195 

MUND.     Now,  Manhode,  I  wyll  araye  the  newe 
In  robes  ryall,  ryght  of  good  he  we  ; 
And  I  praye  the  pryncypally  be  trewe  ; 

And  here  I  dubbe  the  a  knyght,  — 
And  haunte  alwaye  to  chyualry  ! 
I  gyue  the  grace  and  also  beaute, 
Gold  and  syluer,  gret  plente, 

Of  the  wronge  to  make  the  ryght.  203 

MANH.     Gramercy,  Worlde  and  emperour  ! 
Gramercy,  Worlde  and  gouernoure  ! 
Gramercy,  comforte  in  all  coloure  I1 

And  now  I  take  my  leue  ;  fare-well ! 
MUND.     Farewell,  Manhode,  my  gentyll  knyght ! 
Fare-well,  my  sone,  semely  in  syght ! 
I  gyue  the  a  swerde  2  and  also  strength  and  myght, 

In  batayle  boldly  to  bere  the  well.  211 

MANH.     Now  I  am  dubbed  a  knyght  hende, 

Wonder  wide  shall  waxe  my  fame ! 
To  seke  aduentures  now  wyll  I  wende, 

To  please  the  Worlde  in  gle  and  game.  215 

MUND.     Lo,  syrs,  I  am  a  prynce,  peryllous  8  yprovyde,* 

I-preuyd  full  peryllous  8  and  pethely  i-pyght, 
As  a  lorde  in  eche  londe  I  am  belouyd  ; 

Myne  eyen  do  shyne  as  lanterne  bryght  -,  219 

1  Possibly  for  doloure,  but  perhaps  correct  as  it  stands. 

2  R.  aswerde.  *  R.  yprobycie 
8  Probably  pereles,  see  Notef. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  361 

I  am  a  creature  comely,  out  of  care  ; 

Emperours  and  kynges  they  knele  to  my  kne  ; 
Euery  man  is  a-ferde  whan  I  do  on  hym  stare, 

For  all  mery  medell-erthe  maketh  mencyon  of  me  ;  223 

Yet  all  is  my l  hande-werke,  both  by  downe  and  by  dale, 
Bothe  the  see  and  the  lande  2  and  foules  that  fly  ; 

And  I  were  ones  moued,  I  tell  you  in  tale, 

There  durst  no  8  sterre  stere,  that  stondeth  in  the  sky,        227 

For  I  am  lorde  and  leder  so  in  that  londe, 

All  boweth  to  my  byddynge  bonerly  aboute  ; 
Who  that  styreth   -with   ony  stryfe    or  wayteth  me  with 

wro/zge, 
I  shall  myghtly  make  hym  to  stamer  and  stowpe, 

For  I  am  rychest  in  myne  araye, 
I  haue  knyghtes  and  toures, 
I  haue  ladyes  bryghtest  in  bourys. 
Now  wyll  I  fare  on  these  flourys  ; 

Lordynges,  haue  good-day e  !  lExit.]         236 

MANH.     Peas,  now  peas,  ye  felowes  all  aboute  ! 

Peas  now,  and  herkeri  to  my  sawes  ! 
For  I  am  lorde  bothe  stal worthy  and  stoute  ; 

All  londes  are  ledde  by  my  lawes.  240 

Baron  was  there  neuer  borne  that  so  well  hym  bare, 
A  better  ne  a  bolde[r]  nor  a  bryghter  of  ble  ; 

For  I  haue  myght  and  mayne  ouer  countrees  fare, 

And  Manhode  myghty  am  I  namyd  in  euery  couwtre  ;       244 

For  Salerne  and  Samers  and  Ynde  the  loys,4 

Caleys,  Kente,  and  Cornewayle  I  haue  conquered  clene, 

Pycardye  and  Pountes  and  gentyll  Artoys, 

Florence,  Flaunders  and  Frau«ce,  and  also  Gascoyne,  — 
All  I  haue  conquered  as  a  knyght. 

1  R.  is  at  my. 

2  Perhaps  Bothe  the  see  and  the  sande,  the  common  alliterative  phrase. 
8  R.  do ;  corr.  by  Collier.  *  Haz.  reads  Andaluse. 


362  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

There  is  no  emperour  so  kene 
That  dare  me  lyghtly  tene, 
For  lyues  and  lymmes  I  lene, 

So  mykyll  is  my  myght  ;  253 

For  I  haue  boldely  blode  full  dyspyteously  spylde,1 

There  many  hath  lefte  fyngers  and  fete,  both  heed  and 
face. 

I  haue  done  harme  on  hedes  and  knyghtes  haue  I  kyld  ; 

And  many  a  lady  for  my  loue  hath  sayd  '  alas.'  257 

Brygaunt  ernys  2  I  haue  beten  to  backe  and  to  bonys, 

And  beten  also  many  a  grome  to  grounde  ; 
Brestplates  I  haue  beten  as  Steuen  was  with  stonys  ; 
So  fell  a  fyghter  in  felde  3  was  there  neuer  yfounde. 

To  me  no  man  is  makyde  ; 
For  Manhode  myghty,  that  is  my  name, 
Many  a  lorde  haue  I  do  lame  ; 
Wonder  wyde  walketh  my  fame, 

And  many  a  kynges  crowne  haue  I  crakyd.  266 

I  am  worthy  and  wyght,  wytty  and  wyse, 
I  am  ryall  arayde  to  reuen  vnder  the  ryse, 
I  am  proudely  aparelde  in  purpure  and  byse, 

As  golde  I  glyster  in  gere  ; 
I  am  styffe,  stronge,  stalworthe  and  stoute, 
I  am  the  ryallest  redely  that  renneth  in  this  route, 
There  is  no  knyght  so  grysly  that  I  drede  nor  dout, 

For  I  am  so  doughtly  dyght  ther  may  no  dint  me  dere.4    274 

And  the  kynge  of  Pryde,  full  prest,  with  all  his  proude  pr^sens, 
And  the  kynge  of  Lechery  louely  his  letters  hath  me  sent, 
And  the  kynge  of  Wrathe  full  wordely,  with  all  his  entent, 
They  wyll   me   mayntayne  with  mayne  and  all  theyr 
myght ; 5 

1  R.  pyteously  dyspylde. 

2  R.  Brygaunt  Ernys;  Coll.  Brygaunt  Ermys;  Haz.  Brigand  harness. 

3  R.  in  a  felde. 

4  Qy-  after  dyght,  read  no  dint  may  me  dere. 
6  Qy.  with  mayne  &  with  myght. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  363 

The  kynge  of  Couetous,  and  the  kynge  of  Glotony, 
The  kynge  of  Slouthe,  and  the  kynge  of  Enuy, 
All  those  sende  me  theyr  leuery. 

Where  is  now  so  worthy  a  wyght  ?  — 

A  wyght? 

Ye,  as  a  wyght  wytty, 
Here  in  this  sete  sytte  I ; 
For  no  loues  lette  I 

Here  for  to  sytte.  287 

[Enter  Conscyence^ 

CONSC.     Cryst,  as  he  is  crowned  kynge, 

Saue  all  this  comely  company, 
And  graunte  you  all  his  dere  blessynge, 

That  bonerly  bought  you  on  the  roode-tree  !  291 

Now  praye  you  prestly  on  euery  l  syde 

To  God  omnypotent 
To  set  our  enemy  sharpely  on-syde, — 

That  is,  the  deuyll  and  his  couent,  —  295 

And  all  men  to  haue  a  clere  knowynge 
i      Of  heuen  blysse,  that  hye  toure. 
Me  thynke  it  is  a  nessarye  2  thynge 

For  yonge  and  olde,  both  ryche  and  pore,  299 

Poore  Conscyence  for  to  knowe  ; 

For  Conscyence  clere  it  is  my  name. 
Conscyence  counseyleth  both  hye  and  lowe, 

And  Conscyence  comenly  bereth  grete  blame,  — 

Blame  ? 

Ye,  and  oftentymes  set  in  shame. 

Wherfore  I  rede  you  men,  bothe  in  ernest  and  in  game, 
Conscyence  that  ye  knowe.  307 

For  I  knowe  all  the  mysterys  of  man, 
They  be  as  symple  as  they  can  ; 

l  R.  enery.  2  Probably  intentional. 


364  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

And  in  euery  company  where  I  come 

Conscyence  is  out  cast. 
All  the  worlde  dothe  Conscyence  hate  ; 
Mankynde  and  Conscyence  ben  at  debate, 
For  yf  mankynde  myght  Conscyence  take 

My  body  wolde  they  brast,  — 

Brast?1 

Ye,  and  warke  me  moche  wo. 
MANHODE.     Say,  how  felowe !  who  gaue  the  leue  this  way 

to  go? 
What !  wenest  thou  I  dare  not  come  the  to  ? 

Say,  thou  harlot!  whyder  in  hast?  320 

CONSC.     What !  let  me  go,  syr  ;  I  knowe  you  nought  ! 
MANHODE.     No,  bychyde  brothell?     Thou  shalt  be  taught! 
For  I  am  a  knyght,  and  I  were  sought ; 

The  Worlde  hath  auaunced  me, 

CONSC.     Why,  good  syr  knyght,  what  is  your  name  ? 
MANH.     Manhode,  myghty  in  myrthe  and  in  game  ; 
All  powere  of  Pryde  haue  I  tane  ; 

I  am  as  gentyll  as  iay  on  tre.  328 

CONSC.     Syr,  thoughe   the   Worlde  haue   you  to  ma«hode       , 

brought, 

To  mayntayne  maner[s]  ye  were  neuer  taught : 
No  ;  Conscyence  clere  ye  knowe  ryght  nought, 

And  this  longeth  to  a  knyght. 

MANH.     Conscyence !  what  the  deuyll,  man,  is  he  ? 
CONSC.     Syr  a  techer  of  the  spyrytualete. 
MANH.     Spyrytualyte  !  what  the  deuyll  may  that  be  ? 

CONSC.     Syr,  all  that  be  leders  in-to  lyght.  336 

MANH.     Lyght  ?     Ye,  but  herke,  felowe,  yet !     Lyght  fayne 

wolde  I  se. 

CONSC.     Wyll  ye  so,  syr  knyght?     Than  do  after  me. 
MANH.     Ye,  and  it  to  Prydes  pleasynge  be, 
I  wyll  take  thy  techynge. 

1  In  R,  this  word  is  in  the  following  line. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  365 

CONSC.     Nay,  syr  ;  beware  of  Pryde,  and  you  do  well,  — 
For  pryde  Lucyfer  fell  in-to  hell  ; 
Tyll  domysday  ther  shall  he  dwell, 

Withouten  ony  out-comynge  :  344 

For  pride,  syr,  is  but  a  vayne  glorye. 

MANH.     Peas,  thou  brothell,  and  lette  those  wordes  be! 

For  the  Worlde  and  Pryde  hath  auaunced  me  ; 

To  me  men  lewte  full  lowe. 

CONSC.     And  to  beware  of  pryde,  syr,  I  wolde  you  counsayll ; l 
And  thynke  on  Kynge  Robert  of  Cysell, 
How  he  for  pryde  in  grete  pouerte  fell 

For  he  wolde  not  Conscyence  knowe.  352 

MANH.     Ye,  Conscyence,  go  forthe  thy  waye, 
For  I  loue  Pryde  and  wyll  go  gaye  ; 
All  thy  techynge  is  not  worthe  a  straye, 

For  Pryde  I  clepe  my  kynge. 
CONSC.     Syr,  there  is  no  kynge  but  God  alone, 
That  bodely  bought  vs  with  payne  and  passyon 
Bycause  of  mannes  soule  redempcyon,  — 

In  Scrypture  thus  we  fynde.  360 

MANH.     Saye,  Conscyence,  syth  thou  woldest   haue  Pryde 

fro  me, 

What  sayest  thou  by  the  kynge  of  Lechery? 
With  all  mankynde  he  must  be, 

And  with  hym  I  loue  to  lende.2 
CONSC.     Nay,  Manhode,  that  may  not  be  ; 
From  Lechery  fast  you  fle, 
For  in  combraunce  it  wyll  brynge  the 

And  all  that  to  hym  wyll  wende.*  368 

MANH.     Saye,  Conscyence,  of  the  kynge  of  Slouthe  ! 
He  hath  behyght  me  mykell  trouthe  ; 
And  I  may  not  forsake  hym  for  ruthe, 
For  with  hym  I  thynke  to  rest. 

i  R.  counsayll  you.  *  R.  lynge.  8  R.  lynde. 


366  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

CONSC.     Manhode,  in  Scrypture  thus  we  fynde, 
That  Slouthe  is  a  traytour  to  heuen  kynge  ; 
Syr  knyght,  yf  you  wyll  kepe  your  kynde, l 

Frome  2  Slouthe  clene  you  cast.  376 

MANH.     Say,  Conscyence,  [of]  the  kynge  of  Glotonye ! 
He  sayth  he  wyll  not  for-sake  me  ; 
And  I  purpose  his  saruaunt  to  be, 

With  mayne  and  all  my  myght. 
CONSC.     Thynke,  Manhode,  on  substaunce, 
And  put  out  Glotonye  for  combraunce, 
And  kepe  with  you  Good-Gouernaunce, 

For  this  longeth  to  a  knyght.  384 

MANH.     What !    Conscyence,  frome  all  my  maysters  thou 

woldest  haue  me  ; 
But  I  wyll  neuer  forsake  Enuy, 
For  he  is  kynge  of  company, 

Bothe  with  more  and  lasse. 
CONSC.     Nay,  Manhode,  that  may  not  be  ; 
And  ye  wyll  cherysshe  Enuy, 
God  wyll  not  well  pleased  be 

To  comforte  you  in  that  case.  392 

MANH.     Ey,  ey  !  from  fyue  kynges  thou  hast  counseyled  me  ; 
But  from  the  kynge  of  Wrathe  I  wyll  neuer  fle, 
For  he  is  in  euery  dede  doughty, 

For  hym  dare  no  man  rowte. 
CONSC.     Nay,  Manhode,  beware  of  Wrathe, 
For  it  is  but  superfluyte  that  cometh  and  goeth  ; 
Ye,  and  all  men  his  company  hateth, 

For  ofte  they  stonde  in  doubte.  400 

MANH.     Fye  on  the,  fals,  flatterynge  frere ! 
Thou  shake  rewe  the  tyme  that  thou  came  here  ; 
The  deuyll  mote  set  the  on  a  fyre, 
That  euer  I  with  the  mete ! 

1  R.  kynge ;  corr.  by  Collier.  2  R.  Rrome. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  367 

For  thou  counseylest  me  from  all  gladnes 
And  wolde  me  set  vnto  all  sadnes, 
But,  or  thou  brynge  me  in  this  madnes, 

The  deuyll  breke  thy  necke !  408 

But,  syr  frere,  —  euyll  mote  thou  thye  !  — 
Frome  vi  kynges  thou  hast  conseyled  me  ; 
But  that  daye  shall  thou  neuer  se 

To  counsayll  me  frome  Couetous,1 

CONSC.     No,  syr,  I  wyll  not  you  from  Couetous  brynge, 
For  Couetous  I  clepe  a  kynge  : 
Syr,  Couetous  in  good  doynge 

Is  good  in  all  wyse.  416 

But,  syr  kynght,  wyll  ye  do  after  me, 
And  Couetous  your  kynge  shall  be  ? 
MANH.     Ye,  syr,  my  trouthe  I  plyght  to  the 

That  I  wyll  warke  at  thy  wyll. 
CONSC.     Manhode,  wyll  ye  by  this  worde  stande  ? 
MANH.     Ye,  Conscyence,  here  my  hande ! 
I  wyll  neuer  from  it  fonge,2 

Neyther  loude  ne  styll.  424 

CONSC.     Manhode,  ye  must  loue  God  aboue  all  thynge  ; 
His  name  in  ydelnes  ye  may  not  mynge  ; 
Kepe  your  holy  daye  from  worldly  doynge  ; 

Your  fader  and  moder  worshyppe  aye  ; 
Coueyte  ye  to  sle  no  man  ; 
Ne  do  no  lechery  with  no  woman  ; 
Your  neyboures  good  take  not  be  no  waye  ; 8 

And  all  false-wytnesse  ye  must  denaye  ;  432 

Neyther  ye  must  not  couete  no  mannes  wyfe, 
Nor  no  good  that  hym  be-lythe,  — 
This  couetys  shall  kepe  you  out  of  stryfe  : 
These  ben  the  commaundementes  ten. 
Manhode,4  and  ye  these  commaundementes  kepe, 

1  See  note  on  L  176.  3  Qy.  take  not  than. 

2  Qy-  wande.  4  R.  Mankynde. 


368  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

Heuen  blysse  I  you  behete, 

For  Crystes  commaundementes  [ben]  all l  full  swete 

And  full  necessary  to  all  men.  440 

MANH.     What !     Conscyence,  is  this  thy  Couetous  ?  2 
CONSC.     Ye,  Manhode,  in  all  wyse  ! 
And  coueyte  to  Crystes  seruyse, 

Bothe  to  matyns  and  to  masse ! 
Ye  must,  Manhode,  with  all  your  myght 
Mayntayne  Holy  Chyrches  ryght, 
For  this  longeth  to  a  knyght, 

Playnly  in  euery  place.  448 

MANH.     What !  Conscyence,  sholde  I  leue  all  game  and  gle  ? 
CONSC.     Nay,  Manhode,  so  mote  I  thye  ; 
All  myrthe  in  measure  is  good  for  the, 

But,  syr,  measure  is  in  all  thynge. 
MANH.     Measure,  Conscyence  ?  what  thynge  may  measure 

be? 

CONSC.     Syr,  kepe  you  in  charyte, 
And  from  all  euyll  company 

For  doubte  of  foly  doynge.  456 

MANH.     Folye?  what  thynge  callest  thou  folye? 
CONSC.     Syr,  it  is  Pryde,  Wrathe,  and  Enuy, 
Slouthe,  Couetous  and  Glotonye,  — 

Lechery  the  seuente  is  : 
These  seuen  synnes  I  call  folye. 

MANH.     What,  thou  lyest !  3     To  this 
Seuen  the  Worlde  delyuered  me, 
And  sayd  they  were  kynges  of  grete  beaute 

And  most  of  mayne  and  myghtes  ;  465 

But  yet  I  pray  the,  syr,  tell  me  : 
May  I  not  go  arayde  honestly? 

1  Haz.  emends  all  to  are.  2  See  note  on  1.  176. 

8  The  stanza   is  abnormal,  it   can   be  reduced  to  the  usual  form  by 
omitting,  What,  thou  lyest. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  369 

CONSC.     Yes,  Manhode,  hardely, 

In  all  maner  of  degre. 

MANH.     But  I  must  haue  sportynge  of  playe. 
CONSC.     Sykerly,  Manhode,  I  say  not  naye, 
But  good  gouernaunce  kepe  both  nyght  and  daye, 

And  mayntayne  mekenes  and  all  mercy.  473 

MANH.  All  mercy,  Conscyence  ?  what  may  that  be  ? 

CONSC.  Syr  all  dyscrecyon  that  God  gaue  the. 

MANH.  Dyscressyon  I  knowe  not,  so  mote  I  the ! 

CONSC.  Syr,  it  is  all  the  wyttes  that  God  hath  you  sende.1      477 

MANH.     A,  Conscyence,  Conscyence  !  now  I  knowe  and  se 

Thy  cunnynge  is  moche  more  than  myne ; 
But  yet  I  pray  the,  syr,  tell  me  : 

What  is  moost  necessary  for  man  in  euery  tyme?  481 

CONSC.     Syr,  in  euery  tyme  beware  of  folye,  — 

Folye  is  full  of  false  flaterynge  ; 
In  what  occupacyon  that  euer  ye  be, 

Alwaye,  or  ye  begyn,  thynke  on  the  endynge, 

For  blame. 

Nowe  fare-well,  Manhode  ;  I  must  wende. 
MANH.     Now  fare-well,  Conscyence,  myne  owne  frende  ! 
CONSC.     I  pray  you,  Manhode,  have  God  in  mynde 

And  beware  of  Folye  and  Shame.  490 

MANH.     Yes,  yes !     Ye,  come  wynde  and  rayne, 
God  let  hym  neuer  come  here  agayne ! 
Now  he  is  forwarde,2  I  am  ryght  fayne, 

For  in  faythe,  syr,  he  had  nere  counsayled  me  all  amys.   494 

[Exit  Conscyence.} 

A,  a!  now  I  haue  be-thought  me!     Yf  I  shall  heuyn  wyn, 
Conscyence  techynge  I  must  begyn, 
And  clene  forsake  the  kynges  of  synne, 
That  the  Worlde  me  taught, 

1  Qy.  hath  sent  the,  2  Kittredge  suggests  frowarde. 


370  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

And  Conscyence  seruaunt  wyll  I  be, 
And  beleue,  as  he  hath  taught  me, 
Upon  one  God  and  persones  thre 

That  made  all  thynge  of  nought.  502 

For  Conscyence  clere  I  clepe  my  kynge 
And  [me]  his  knyght  in  good  doynge, 
For,  ryght  of  reason  as  I  fynde, 

Conscyence  techynge  trewe  is.1 
The  Worlde  is  full  of  boost, 
And  sayth  he  is  of  myghtes  moost ; 
All  his  techynge  is  not  worthe  a  toost,2 

For  Conscyence  he  dothe  refuse.  510 

But  yet  wyll  I  hym  not  forsake, 

For  mankynde  he  doth  mery  make. 

Thoughe  the  Worlde  and  Conscyence  be  at  debate, 

Yet  the  Worlde  wyll  I  not  despyse  ; 
For  bothe  in  chyrche  and  in  chepynge 
And  in  other  places  beynge, 
The  Worlde  fyndeth  me  all  thynge 

And  dothe  me  grete  seruyse.  518 

Now  here  full  prest 

I  thynke  to  rest !  8 

Now  myrthe  is  best !  521 

[Enter  Folye,] 

FOLYE.  What,  hey  how,  care  awaye ! 
My  name  is  Folye  !  Am  I  4  not  gaye  ? 
Is  here  ony  man  that  wyll  saye  naye ! 

That  renneth  in  this  route  ! 
A,  syr,  God  gyue  you  good  cue  ! 
MANH.  Stonde  vtter,  felowe !  Where  doest  MOM  thy  cur- 

tesy  preue  ? 
FOLYE.     What !  I  do  but  clawe  myne  ars,  syr,  be  your  leue. 

I  praye  you,  syr,  ryue  me  this  cloute.  529 

1  R.  is  trewe.  8  R.  to  ro  rest. 

2  R.  coost ;  corr.  by  Kittredge.  *  R.  I  am. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

MANH.     What,  stonde  out,  them  sayned  l  shrewe  ! 
FOLYE.     By  my  2  faythe,  syr,  there  the  cocke  crewe, 
For  I  take  recorde  of  this  rewe 

My  thedome  is  nere  past. 
MANH.     Now,  trewely,  it  may  well  be  so. 
FOLYE.     By  God,  syr,  yet  haue  I  felowes  mo, 
For  in  euery  countre  where  I  go 

Some  man  his  thryfte  hath  lost.  537 

MANH.  But  herke,  felowe  ;  art  thou  ony  craftes  man  ? 
FOLYE.  Ye,  syr,  I  can  bynde  a  syue  and  tynke  a  pan  ; 
And,  therto,  a  coryous  bukler-player  I  am. 

Aryse,  felowe  ;  wyll  thou  assaye  ? 
MANH.     Now,  truely,  syr,  I  trow  thou  canst  but  lytell  skyl 

of  playe. 

FOLYE.     Yes,  by  Cockes  bones,  that  I  can  ! 
I  wyll  neuer  fle  for  no  man 

That  walketh  by  the  waye.  545 

MANH.     Felowe,  thoughe  thou  haue  kunnynge, 
I  counsayll  the  leue  thy  bostynge, 
For  here  thou  may  thy  felowe  fynde, 

Whyder  thou  wylte  at  longe  or  shorte. 
FOLYE.     Come,  loke,  and  thou  darest ;  aryse  and  assaye  ! 
MANH.     Ye,  syr,  but  yet  Conscyence  byddeth  me  naye. 
FOLYE.     No,  syr,  thou  darest  not,  in  good  faye, 

For  truely  thou  faylest  no  false  herte.  553 

MANH.     What  sayst  thou?  haue  I  a  false  herte? 
FOLYE.     Ye,  syr,  in  good  faye. 
MANH.     Manhode  wyll  not  that  I  saye  naye  ! 
Defende  the,  Folye,  yf  thou3  maye, 

For,  in  feythe,  I  purpose  to  wete  what  thou  art.  558 

\They  fight^ 

How  sayste  thou  now,  Folye  ?  hast  thou  not  a  touche  ? 
FOLYE.     No,  ywys,  but  a  lytell  on  my  pouche  ; 

l  Collier  suggests  fayned.  2  R.  By  by.  3  R.  tyou. 


372  MUNDUS    ET    1NFANS. 

On  all  this  meyne  I  wyll  me  wouche, 

That  stondeth  here  aboute. 
MANH.     And  I  take  recorde  on  all  this  rewe 
Thou  hast  two  touches,  though  I  saye  but  fewe. 
FOLYE.     Ye,  this  place  is  not  without  a  shrewe, 

I  do  you  all  out  of  doute.1  566 

MANH.     But  herke,  felowe  ;  by  thy  faythe,  where  was  thou 

bore  ? 

FOLYE.     By  my  faythe,  in  Englonde  haue  I  dwelled  yore, 
And  all  myne  auncetters  me  before  ; 

But,  syr,  in  London  is  my  chefe  dwellynge. 
MANH.     In  London?     Where,  yf  a  man  the  sought? 
FOLYE.     Syr,  in  Holborne  I  was  forthe  brought ; 
And  with  the  courtyers  I  am  betaught ; 

To  Westmynster  I  vsed  to  wende.  574 

MANH.     Herke,    felowe !    why   doost   thou  to  Westminster 

drawe  ? 

FOLYE.     For  I  am  a  seruaunt  of  the  lawe  ; 
Couetous  is  myne  owne  felowe,  — 

We  twayne  plete  for  the  kynge  ; 
And  poore  men  that  come  from  vplande, 
We  wyll  take  theyr  mater  in  hande,  — 
Be  it  ryght  or  be  it  wronge, 

Theyr  thryfte  with  vs  shall  wende.  582 

MANH.     Now  here,  felowe!     I    praye  the  whyder   wendest 

thou  tha«  ? 

FOLYE.     By  my  feyth,  syr,  into  London  I  ran 
To  the  tauernes  to  drynke  the  wyne  ; 

And  than  to  the  innes  I  toke  the  waye, 
And  there  I  was  not  welcome  to  the  osteler, 
But  I  was  welcome  to  the  fayre  tapester, 
And  to  all  the  housholde  I  was  ryght  dere, 

For  I  haue  dwelled  with  her2  many  a  daye.  590 

1  R.  dewe. 

2  Qy-  for  with  her,  rea<t  there,  or  with  them. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  373 

MANH.     Now,    I    praye   the,    whyder   toke   thau.  the   waye 

than  ?  * 

FOLYE.     In  fey  the,  syr,  ouer  London-brydge  I  ran, 
And  the  streyght  waye  to  the  stewes  I  came, 

And  toke  lodgynge  for  a  nyght ; 
And  there  I  founde  my  brother,  Lechery  : 
There  men  and  women  dyde  folye, 
And  every  man  made  of  me  as  worthy 

As  thoughe  I  hadde  ben  a  knyght.  598 

MANH.     I  praye  the  yet  tell  me  mo  of  thyne  aduentures. 
FOLYE.     In  feythe,  euen  streyght  to  all  the  freres, 
And  with  them  I  dwelled  many  yeres  ; 

And  they  crowned  Folye  a  kynge. 

MANH.     I  praye  the,  felowe,  whyder  wendest  thou  tho? 
FOLYE.     Syr,  all  Englande  to  and  fro, 
In-to  abbeys  and  in- to  nonneryes  also  ; 

And  alwaye  Folye  dothe  felowes  fynde.  606 

MANH.     Now,  herke,  felowe  !  I  praye  the,  tell  me  thy  name. 
FOLYE.     I-wys,  I  hyght  bothe  Folye  and  Shame. 
MANH.     A  ha !  thou  arte  he  that  Conscyence  dyd  blame, 

Whan  he  me  taught. 

I  praye  the,  Folye,2  go  hens  and  folowe  not  me. 
FOLYE.     Yes,  good  syr,  let  me  your  seruaunt  be ! 
MANH.     Naye,  so  mote  I  thye, 

For  than  a  shrewe  had  I  caught!  614 

FOLYE.     Why,  good  syr,  what  is  your  name  ? 
MANH.     Manhode  myghty,  that  bereth  no  blame. 
FOLYE.     By   the  roode,  and    Manhode   mystereth  in  euery 
game 

Somdele  to  cherysshe  Folye  ; 
For  Folye  is  felowe  with  the  Worlde, 
And  greteiy  beloued  with  many  a  lorde, 
And  yf  ye  put  me  out  of  your  warde, 

The  Worlde  ryght  wroth  wyll  be.  622 

1  R.  than  tiis  waya.  2  R.  folyc. 


374  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

MAXH.     Ye,  syr,  yet  had  I  leuer  the  Worlde  be  wrath 
Than  lese  the  cunnynge  that  Conscyence  me  gaue. 
FOLYE.     A  cuckowe  for  Conscyence,  he  is  but  a  dawe  ! 

He  can  not  elles  but  preche.  626 

MANH.     Ye ;  I  praye  the,  leue  thy  lewde  claterynge, 

For  Conscyence  is  a  counseler  for  a  kynge. 

FOLYE.     I  wolde  not  gyue  a  strawe  for  his  techynge, 

He  dooth  but  make  men  wrothe.  630 

But  wottest  thou  what  I  saye,  man  ? 

By  that  ylke  trouthe  that  God  me  gaue, 
Had  I  that  bychyde  Conscyence  in  this  place, 
I  sholde  so  bete  hym  with  my  staff e 

That  all  his  stownes  sholde  stynke. 
MANH.     I  praye  the,  Folye,  go  hens  and  folowe  not  me. 
FOLYE.     Yes,  syr,  so  mote  I  thye, 
Your  seruaunt  wyll  I  be  ; 

I  axe  but  mete  and  drynke.  639 

MANH.     Peace,  man  !  I  may  not  haue  the  for  thy  name  ; 
For  thou  sayst  thy  name  is  bothe  Folye  and  Shame. 
FOLYE.     Syr,  here  in  this  cloute  I  knyt  Shame, 

And  clype  me  but  Propre  Folye. 
MANH.     Ye,  Folye,  wyll  thou  be  my  trewe  seruaunt  ? 
FOYLE.     Ye,  syr  Manhode  ;  here  my  hande  ! 
MANH.     Now  let  vs  drynke  at  this  comnaunt, 

For  that  is  curtesy.  647 

FOLYE.     Mary,  mayster,  ye  shall  haue  in  hast. 
[Aside]      A  ha  !  syrs,  let  the  catte  wynke  ! 
For  all  ye  wote  not  what  I  thynke, 
I  shall  drawe  hym  suche  a  draught  of  drynke 

That  Conscyence  he  shall  awaye  cast.  652 

Haue,  mayster,  and  drynke  well, 
And  let  vs  make  reuell,  reuell ! 
For  I  swere  by  the  chyrche  of  Saynt  Myghell 
I  wolde  we  were  at  stewes. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  375 

For  there  is  nothynge  but  reuell-route ; 
And  we  were  there,  I  haue  l  no  doubte 
I  sholde  be  knowen  all  aboute, 

Where  Conscyence  they  wolde  refuse.  660 

MANH.     Peas,  Folye,  my  fayre  frende  ! 

For,  by  Cryste,  I  wolde  not  that  Conscyence  sholde  me  here  2 

fynde. 
FOLYE.     Tusshe,  mayster,  thereof  speke  no-thynge, 

For  Conscyence  cometh  no  tyme  here.2 
MANH.     Peace,  Folye  ;  there  is  no  man  that  knoweth  me. 
FOLYE.     Syr,  here  my  trouthe  I  plyght  to  the, 
And  thou  wylte  go  thyder  with  me, 

For  knowlege  haue  thou  no  care.  668 

MANH.     Pease  !  but  it  is  hens  a  grete  waye. 
FOLYE.     Parde,  syr,  we  may  be  there  on  a  daye. 
Ye,  and  we  shall  be  ryght  welcome,  I  dare  well  saye, 

In  Estchepe  for  to  dyne  ; 

And  than  we  wyll  with  Lombardes  at  passage  playe, 
And  at  the  Popes  Heed  swete'wyne  assaye  ; 

We  shall  be  lodged  well  a-fyne.  675 

MAXH.  What  sayest  thou,  Folye  ;  is  this  the  best? 
FOLYE.  Syr,  all  this  is  manhode,  well  thou  knowest. 
MANH.  Now,  Foly,  go  we  hens  in  hast ; 

But  fayne  wolde  I  chaunge  my  name, 
For  well  I  wote  yf  Conscyence  mete  me  in  this  tyde, 
Ryght  well  I  wote  he  wolde  me  chyde. 
FOLYE.     Syr,  for  fere  of  you  his  face  he  shall  hyde  : 

I  shall  clepe  you  Shame.  683 

MANH.     Now,  gramercy,  Folye,  my  felowe  in-fere  ! 
Go  we  hens  ;  tary  no  lenger  here  ; 
Tyll  we  be  gone  me  thynke  it  seuen  yere,  — 
I  haue  golde  and  good  to  spende. 

i  R.  had.  2  Qy.  there. 


3/6  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

FOLYE.     A  ha  !  mayster,  that  is  good  chere. 
[Aside}     And  or  it  be  passed  halfe  a  yere, 
I  shall  the  shere  ryght  a  lewde  frere, 

And  hyther  agayne  the  sende.  691 

MANH.     Folye,  go  before  and  teche  me  the  waye. 
FOLYE.     Come  after,  Shame,  I  the  praye, 
And  Conscyence  clere  ye  cast  awaye. 

[Aside}      Lo,  syrs,  this  Folye  techeth  aye, 
For  where  Conscyence  cometh  with  his  cunnynge, 
Yet  Folye  full  fetely  shall  make  hym  blynde  : 
Folye  before  and  Shame  behynde,  — 

Lo,  syrs,  thus  fareth  the  worlde  alwaye !  699 

[Exit-Folye.] 

MANH.    [Sings] l      Now  I  wyll  folowe  Folye, 
For  Folye  is  my  man  ; 
Ye,  Folye  is  my  felowe 

And  hath  gyuen  me  a  name  : 
Conscyence  called  me  Manhode, 

Folye  calleth  me  Shame.  705 

[Sf«aks]      Folye  wyll  me  lede  to  London  to  lerne  reuell ; 
Ye,  and  Conscyence  is  but  a  flaterynge  brothell, 

For  euer  he  is  carpynge  of  care. 

The  Worlde  and  Folye  counseylleth  me  to  all  gladnes  ; 
Ye,  and  Conscyence  counseylleth  me  to  all  sadnes,  2  — 
Ye,  to  moche  sadnes  myght  brynge  me  in-to  madnes. 

And  now   haue  good-daye,  syrs;  to    London   to  seke 

Folye  wyll  I  fare.  712 

[Enter  Conscyence^ 

CONSC.     Saye,  Manhode,  frende,  whyder  wyll  ye  go? 
MANH.     Nay,  syr,  in  faythe,  my  name  is  not  so. 
Why,  frere,  what  the  deuyll  hast  thou  to  do 
Whyder  I  go  or  abyde  ? 

1  This  is  not  indicated  as  a  song  in  R.,  and  is  printed  as  three  long  lines. 

2  R.  sadnts. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  377 

CONSC.     Yes,  syr,  I  will  counsell  you  for  the  best! 
MANH.     I  wyll  none  of  thy  counsell,  so  haue  I  rest ! 
I  wyll  go  whyder  me  1  lest, 

For  thou  canst  nought  elles  but  chyde.  720 

[Exit  Mankode.'} 

CONSC.     Lo,  syrs,  a  grete  ensample  you  may  se  : 

The  freylnes  of  Mankynde, 
How  oft  he  falleth  in  folye 

Throughe  temptacyon  of  the  fende  ;  724 

For,  whan  the  fende  and  the  flesshe  be  at  one  assent, 

Than  Conscyence  clere  is  clene  out  cast ; 
Men  thynke  not  on  the  grete  iugement 

That  the  sely  soule  shall  haue  at  the  last ;  728 

But  wolde  God,  all  men  wolde  haue  in  mynde 

Of  the  grete  daye  of  dome, 
How  he  shall  gyue  a  grete  rekenynge 

Of  euyll  dedes  that  he  hath  done.  732 

But  natheles,2  syth  it  is  so, 

That  Manhode  is  forthe  with  Folye  wende, 
To  seche  Perseueraunce  now  wyll  I  go, 

With  the  grace  of  God  Omnypotent.  736 

His  counseylles  ben  [with  God]  in-fere  ; 
Perssueraunce  counsell  is  moost  dere  ; 
Nexte  to  hym  is  Conscyence  clere 

From  synnynge. 

Now  in-to3  thys  presence,  to  Cryst  I  praye 
To  spede  me  well  in  my  iournaye ! 
Fare-well,  lordynges,  and  haue  good  daye  ; 

To  seke  Perseueraunce  wyll  I  wende.  744 

[Exit  Conscyence  ;  enter  Perseueraunce.] 
1  R.  my.  2  R.  nedeles ;  Haz.  [it  is]  nedeles.  8  Qy.  in. 


378  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

PERS.     Now  Cryst,  our  comely  Creature, l  clerer  than  crystal 
clene, 

That  craftly  made  euery  creature  by  good  recreacyon, 
Saue  all  this  company  that  is  gathered  here,  bydene, 

And  set  all  your  soules  in-to  good  saluacyon  !  748 

Now  good  God,  that  is  moost  wysest  and  welde  2  of  wyttes, 

This  company  counsell,  comforte  and  glad, 
And  saue  all  this  multytude  8  that  semely  here  syttes ! 

Now,  good  God,  for  his  mercy,  that  all  men  made, —       752 

Now  Mary,  Moder,  mekest  that  I  mene, 

Shelde  all  this  company  from  euyll  conuersacyon,4 

And  saue  you  from  our  enemy,  as  she  is  bryght  and  clene, 
And  at  the  last  day  of  dome  delyuer  you  from  euerlast- 

ynge  dampnac[y]on !  756 

Syrs,  Perseueraunce  is  my  name  ; 

Conscyence  [my]  borne  broder  is  ; 
He  sente  me  hyder  mankynde  to  endoctryne, 
That  they  sholde  to  no  vyces  enclyne, 

For  ofte  mankynde  is  gouerned  amys 

And  throughe  foly  mankynde  is  set  in  shame. 
.  Therfore  in  this  presens  to  Cryst  I  praye, 
Or  that  I  hens  wende  awaye, 
Some  good  worde  that  I  may  saye 

To  borowe  mannes  soul  from  blame.  766 

[Enter  Manhode  B  old  and  broken] 

AGE.     Alas,  alas,  that  me  is  wo  ! 

My  lyfe,  my  lykynge  I  haue  forlorne  ; 
My  rentes,  my  rychesse,  it  is  all  ygo  ; 

Alas  the  daye  that  I  was  borne  !  770 

1  This  spelling  of  Creator  is  too  common  to  change. 

2  Welde  (=  weldy)  seems  more  likely  than  welder  or  welle. 

8  R.  symylytude ;  apparently  a  confusion  of  semely  (=  assembly)  and 
multitude. 

4  R.  Inuersacyon. 

6  Henceforth  called  Age. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  379 

For  I  was  borne  Manhode,  moost  of  myght, 

Styffe,  stronge,  both  stalworthy  and  stoute  ; 
The  Worlde  full  worthely  hath  made  me  a  knyght, 

All  bowed  to  my  byddynge  bonerly  aboute  ;  774 

Than  Conscyence  clere,  comely  and  kynde, 

Mekely  he  met  me  in  sete  there  I  sate, 
He  lerned  me  a  lesson  of  his  techynge, 

And  the  vij  deedly  synnes  full  lothely  he  dyde  hate  :  778 

Pryde,  Wrathe  and  Enuy  and  Couetous  in  kynde, — 

The  Worlde  all  these  synnes  delyuered  me  vntyll, — 

Slouthe,  Glotony,1  and  Lechery,  that  is  full  of  false  flaterynge, — 
All  these  Conscyence  reproued  both  lowde  and  sty  11.          782 

To  Conscyence  I  helde  vp  my  hande 
To  kepe  Crystes  commaundementes,2 
He  warned  me  of  Folye,  that  tray  tour,  and  bade  me  beware  ; 

And  thus  he  went  his  waye. 
But  I  haue  falsly  me  forsworne,  — 
Alas  the  daye  that  I  was  borne ! 
For  body  and  soule  I  haue  forlorne, 

I  clynge  as  a  clodde  in  claye.  790 

In  London  many  a  daye 

At  the  passage  I  wolde  playe, 

I  thought  to  borowe  and  neuer  paye  ; 3 

Than  was  I  sought  and  set  in  stockes. 

In  Newgate  I  laye  vnder  lockes ; 

If  I  sayd  ought,  I  caught  many  knockes,  — 

Alas  !  where  was  Manhode  tho? 
Alas,  my  lewdenes  hath  me  lost  ! 
Where  is  my  body  so  proude  and  prest? 
I  coughe  and  rought,  my  body  wyll  brest, 

Age  dothe  folowe  me  so. 

1  R.  couetous,  Glotony  being  omitted, 
i  Qy.  commaunde.  3  Line  out  ? 


380  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

I  stare  and  stacker  as  I  stonde, 
I  grone  grysly  1  vpon  the  grounde  ; 
Alas  !  Dethe,  why  lettest  thou  me  lyue  so  longe? 
I  wander  as  a  wyght  in  wo 

And  care. 

For  I  haue  done  yll, 
Now  wende  I  wyll 
My-selfe  to  spyll, 

I  care  not  whyder  nor  where  !  810 

PERS.     Well  ymet,  syr !  well  ymet!  and  whyder  awaye? 
AGE.     Why,  good  syr,  wherby  do  ye  saye? 
PERS.     Tell  me,  syr,  I  you  praye, 

And  I  with  you  wyll  wende. 
AGE.     Why,  good  syr,  what  is  your  name? 
PERS.     Forsothe,  syr,  Perseueraunce,  the  same. 
AGE.     Syr,    ye    are    Conscyence    brother    that   me   dyd 
blame, 

I  may  not  with  you  lende.2  818 

PERS.     Yes,  yes,  Manhode,  my  frende  in-fere. 
AGE.     Nay,  syr,  my  name  is  in  another  maner, 
For  Folye  his  owne  selfe  was  here 

And  hath  clepyd  me  Shame. 
PERS.     Shame!3  Nay,  Manhode,  let  hym  go, 
Folye  and  his  felowes  also  ; 
For  they  wolde  the  brynge  in-to  care  and  wo, 

And  all  that  wyll  folowe  his  game,  .  826 

AGE.     Ye,  game  who-so  game, 
Folye  hath  gyuen  me  a  name  ; 4 

So  where-euer  I  go 
He  clypped  me  Shame. 

Now  Manhode  is  gone,5 

Folye  hath  folowed  me  so.  832 

1  R.  glysly.  4  R.  aname. 

2  R.  lynge.  5  Qy.  go. 
8  R.  has  Shame  in  a  line  by  itself. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  381 

Whan  I  fyrst  from  my  moder  cam, 
The  Worlde  made  me  a  man, 
And  fast  in  ryches  I  ran 

Tyll  I  was  dubbed  a  knyght : 
And  than  I  met  with  Conscyence  clere, 
And  he  me  set  in  suche  manere 
Me  thought  his  techynge  was  full  dere 

Bothe  by  daye  and  nyght :  840 

And  than  Folye  met  me, 

And  sharpely  he  beset  me, 

And  from  Conscyence  he  fet  me, 

He  wolde  not  fro  me  go  ; 
Many  a  daye  he  keped  me, 
And  to  all  folkes  he  cleped  me 

For1  Shame, 
And  vnto  all  synnes  he  set  me. 

Alas,  that  me  is  wo  !  849 

For  I  haue  falsely  me  forsworne  ; 

Alas  that  I  was  borne  ! 

Body  and  soule  I  am  but  lorne ; 

Me  lyketh  neyther  gle  nor  game.  853 

PERS;     Nay,  nay,  Manhode,  saye  not  so ! 
Be-ware  of  Wanhope,2  for  he  is  a  fo. 
A  newe  name  I  shall  gyue  you  to, 

I  clepe  you  Repentaunce  ; 
For,  and  you  here  repente  your  synne, 
Ye  are  possyble  heuen  to  wynne, 
But  with  grete  contrycyon  ye  must  begynne 

And  take  you  to  abstynence.  86 1 

For,  thoughe  a  man  had  do  alone 
The  deedly  synnes  euerychone, 
And  he  with  contrycyon  make  his  mone 
To  Cryst  our  heuyn  kynge, 

1  R.  Fro. ;  Coll.,  Haz.  omit. 

2  R.  Wanhode;  corr.  by  Kittredge;  Coll.,  Haz.  Manhode. 


382  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

God  is  also  gladde  of  hym 

As  of  the  creature  that  neuer  dyde  syn. 

AGE.     Now,  good  syr,  how  sholde  I  contrycyon  begyn? 

PERS.     Syr,  in  shryfte  of  mouthe  without  varyenge  ;         869 

And  another  ensample  I  shall  shewe  you  to  : 
Thynke  on  Peter  and  Poule  and  other  mo, 
Thomas,  James,  and  Johan  also, 

And  also  Mary  Maudeleyn  ; 
For  Poule  dyde  Crystes  people  grete  vylany, 
And  Peter  at  the  Passyon  forsoke  Cryst  thry,1 
And  Maudelayne  lyued  longe  in  lechery, 

And  Saynt  Thomas  byleued  not  in  the  Resurreccyon,        877 

And  yet  these  to  Cryst  are  derlynges  dere, 

And  now  be  sayntes  in  heuen  clere  ; 

And  therfore,  thoughe  ye  haue  trespased  here, 

I  hope  ye  be  sory  for  your  synne. 
AGE.     Ye,  Perseuerance,  I  you  plyght, 
I  am  sory  for  my  synne  both  daye  and  nyght ; 
I  wolde  fayne  lerne  with  all  my  myght 

How  I  sholde  heuyn  wynne.  885 

PERS.     So2  to  wynne  heuyn  v  nessarye  thynges  there  ben 
That  must  be  knowen  to  all  mankynde  ; 
The  v  wyttes  doth  begynne, 

Syr,  bodely  and  sprytually. 
AGE.     Of  the  v  wyttes  I  wolde  haue  knowynge. 
PERS.     Forsoth,  syr,  herynge,  seynge,  and  smellynge, 
The  remenaunte,  tastynge  and  felynge,  — 

These  ben  the  v  wyttes  bodely.  893 

And,  syr,  other  v  wyttes  ther  ben. 
AGE.     Syr  Perseueraunce,  I  knowe  not  them. 
PERS.     Now,  Repentaunce,  I  shall  you  ken,  — 
They  are  the  power  of  the  soule  : 

1  R.  thryes.  a  Haz.  emends  to  Sir, 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  383 

Clere  in  mynde,  —  there  is  one,  — 
Imagynacyon  and  all  reason, 
Understondynge  and  compassyon,  — 

These  belonge  vnto  Perseueraunce.  901 

AGE.     Gramercy,  Perseueraunce,  for  your  trewe  techynge  ! 
But,  good  syr,  is  there  ony  more  behynde 
That  is  necessary  to  all  mankynde 

Frely  for  to  knowe  ? 

PERS.     Ye,  Repentaunce,  more  there  be 
That  euery  man  must  on  byleue,  — 
The  xij  artycles  of  the  byleue  1 

That  mankynde  must  on  trowe  :  909 

The  fyrst,  that  God  is  in  one  substaunce, 
And  also  that  God  is  in  thre  persones, 
Begynnynge  and  endynge  without  varyaunce, 

And  all  this  worlde  made  of  nought ; 
The  seconde,  that  the  Sone  of  God,  sykerly, 
Toke  flesshe  and  blode  of  the  Vyrgyn  Mary 
Without  touchynge  of  mannes  flessh[l]e  2  companye,  — 

This  must  be  in  euery  mannes  thought ;  91 7 

The  thyrde,  that  that  same  God  Sone, 

[Was]  born  of  that  Holy  Vyrgyn, 

And  she  after  his  byrthe  mayden  as  she  was  beforne 

And  clerer  in  all  kynde  ; 

Also  the  fourth e,  that  same  Cryst,  God  and  man, 
He  suffred  payne  and  passyon 
Bycause  of  mannes  soule  redempcyon, 

And  on  a  crosse  dyde  hynge  ;  925 

The  fyfte  artycle  I  shall  you  tell,  — 
Than  the  Spyryte  of  Godhed  went  to  hell, 
And  bought  out  the  soules  that  there  dyde  dwell, 
By  the  power  of  his  owne  myght  ; 

1  R.  fayth.  2  Corr.  by  Kittredge. 


384  MUNDUS    ET    INFANS. 

The  vi  artycle  I  shall  you  saye,  — 
Cryst  rose  vpon  the  thyrde  daye, 
Very  God  and  man  withouten  naye, 

That  all  shall  deme  and  dyght ;  933 

He  sent  mannes  soule  ]  in-to  heuen, 
Alofte  all  the  aungelles  euerychone, 
There  is  the  Fader  [and]  the  Sone, 

And  sothfast  Holy  Goost ; 2 
The  eyght  artycle  we  must  beleue  on,  — 
That  same  God  shall  come  downe, 
And  deme  mannes  soule  at  the  daye  of  dome, 

And  on  mercy  than  must  we  trust ;  941 

The  ix  artycle,  with-outen  stryf e,  — 

Euery  man,  mayden,  and  wyfe, 

And  all  the  bodyes  that  euer  bare  lyfe 

And  at  the  daye  of  dome  body  and  soule  shall  pere  ; 8 
Truely  the  x  artycle  is,  — 
All  they  that  hath  kepyd  Goddes  seruyce, 
They  shall  be  crowned  in  heuen  blysse 

As  Crystes  seruauntes,  to  hym  full  dere  ;  949 

The  xi  artycle,  the  sothe  to  sayne,  — 

All  they  that  hath  falsely  to  God  guyded  *  them, 

They  shall  be  put  in-to  hell-payne, 

There  shall  be  no  synne  couerynge  ; 
Syr,  after  the  xii  we  must  wyrche, 
And  beleue  in  all  the  sacramentes  of  Holy  Chyrche, 
That  they  ben  necessary  to  5  both  last  and  fyrste, 

To  all  maner  of  mankynde.  957 

Syr,  ye  must  also  here  and  knowe  the  commau«deme»tes  x. 
Lo,  syr,  this  is  your  beleue  and  all  men  ; 
Do  after  it  and  ye  shall  heuen  wyn, 
Without  double,  I  knowe. 

1  R.  sonle.  *  R.  gayded. 

2  These  two  lines  as  one  in  R.  6  Qyf  omit  to. 
8  Qy.  omit  And  and  body  and  soule. 


MUNDUS    ET    INFANS.  385 

AGE.     Gramercy,  Perseueraunce,  for  your  trewe  techynge, 
For  in  the  spyryte  of  my  soule  wyll  I  fynde 
That  it  is  necessary  to  all  mankynde 

Truely  for  to  knowe.  965 

Now,  syrs,  take  all  ensample  by  me, 
How  I  was  borne  in  symple  degre  ; 
The  Worlde  ryall  receyued  me 

And  dubbed  me  a  knyght ; 
Than  Conscyence  met  me  ; 
So  after  hym  came  Folye  ; 
Folye  falsely  deceyued  me, 

Than  Shame  my  name  hyght.  973 

PERS.     Ye,  and  now  is  your  name  Repentaunce 

Throughe  the  grace  of  God  Almyght ; 
And  therfore,  withoute  ony  dystaunce, 

I  take  my  leue  of  kynge  and  knyght  ; 
And  I  praye  to  Jhesu  whiche  [h]as  made  vs  all, 
Couer  you  with  his  mantell  perpetuall  !  979 

Amen  ! 

Here  endeth  the  Interlude  of  Mundus  et  Infans.  Imprynted 
at  London  in  Fletestrete  at  the  sygne of 'the  Soime  by  me  vuynkyn 
de  worde.  The  yere  of  our  Lorde  M.CCCCC.  and  .xxij.  The 
.x-vij.  daye  of  July. 


HYCKESCORNER. 


The  basis  of  the  text  is  a  collation  of  the  reprint  by  Hawkins,  "  The  Origin  of 
the  English  Drama,  Oxford,  1773,"  I,  69-111,  with  the  original  edition  by 
Wynkyn  de  Worde  (indicated  in  the  footnotes  by  W.).  Hawkins  interchanged  « 
and  v,  to  conform  to  modern  usage,  and  in  this  I  have  followed  him,  as  the  colla- 
tion made  for  me  does  not  go  into  detail  on  this  particular  point.  In  the  foot- 
notes I  have  tried  to  record  all  really  important  variants  in  both  Hawkins  (Haw.) 
and  Hazlitt's  Dodsley  (Haz.),  but  no  note  is  made  of  insignificant  variations  in 
spelling. 


[Dramatis  Personae. 

HYCKE-SCORNER.  PYTE. 

IMAGYNACYON.  CONTEMPLACYON. 

FREWYLL.  PERSEVERAUNCE.] 

[Enter  Pyte  alone.'} 

PYTE.     Now  Ihesu  the  gentyll,  that  bought1  Adam  fro  hell, 

Save  you  all,  soveraynes,  and  solas  you  sende  ; 
And,  or  2  this  mater  that  I  begynne  to  tell, 

I  praye  you  of  audyence  tyll  I  have  made  an  ende  ; 
For  I  saye  to  you  my  name  is  Pyte, 

That  ever  yet  hath  ben  mannes  frende. 
In  the  bosome  of  the  Seconde  Persone  in  Trynyte 

I  sprange  as  a  plante,  mannes  mysse  to  amende. 

You  for  to  helpe  I  put  to  my  honde,  — 

Recorde  I  take  of  Mary  that  wepte  teres  of  blode  ; 
I,  Pyte,  within  her  herte  dyde  stonde, 

Whan  she  sawe  her  sone  on  the  rode. 

1  So  W. ;  Haw.  Haz.  brought.  a  Haz.  of. 


HYCKESCORNER.  387 

The  swerde  of  sorowe  gave  that  lady  [a]  wounde, 
Whan  a  spere  clave  her  sones  herte  a-sondre  ; 

She  cryed  out  and  fell  to  the  grounde  ; 

Though e  she  was  woo,  hyt  was  lytell  wonder.  16 

This  delycate  colour,1  that  goodly  lady, 

Full  pale  and  wanne  she  sawe  her  sone,  all  deed, 
Splayed  on  a  crosse  with  the  fyve  welles  of  pyte, 

Of  purple  velvet  poudred  with  roses  reed. 

Lo  !  I,  Pyte,  thus  made  your  erande  to  be  spede, 
Or  elles  man  for-ever  sholde  have  ben  forlore  ; 2 

A  mayden  so  layde  hys  life  to  wedde  ; 
Crowned  as  a  kynge,  the  thornes  prycked  hym  sore.  24 

Charyte  and  I  of  true  love  ledes  the  double  rayne  ; 

Who-so  me  loveth  dampned  never  shall  be. 
Of  some  vertuous  company  I  wolde  be  fayne  ; 

For  all  that  wyll  to  heven  nedes  must  come  by  me, 

Chefe  porter  I  am  in  that  hevenly  cyte. 
And  now  here  wyll  I  rest  me  a  lytell  space, 
Tyll  hyt  please  Ihesu  of  his  grace 
Some  vertuous  felyshyp  for  to  sende.  32 

[Enter  Contemplacyon,  soliloquizing] 

CONT.     Chryste,  that  was  crystened,  crucyfyed  and  crowned, 
In  his  bosum  true  love  was  gaged  with  a  spere  ; 

His  vaynes  braste  and  brosed,  and  to  a  pyller  bounde, 

With  scourges  he  was  lashed,  the  knottes  the  skyn  tare  ; 
On  his  necke  to  Calvary  the  grete  crosse  he  bare ; 

His  blode  ran  to  the  grounde,  as  Scrypture  doth  tel, 

His  burden  was  so  hevy  that  downe  under  it  he  fell.  39 

Lo !  I  am  kyn  to  the  Lorde  which  is  Goddes  Sone  ; 
My  name  is  wryten  formest  in  the  boke  of  lyfe  ; 

1  Haz.  inserts  had ;  qy.  creature ;  the  original  reading  may,  however,  be 
right,  and,  as  Kittredge  suggests,  possibly  11.  17  and  19  should  change 
places.  2  W.  forlorne ;  Haz.  forlore. 


388  HYCKESCORNER. 

For  I  am  perfyte  Contemplacyon, 

And  brother  to  Holy  Chyrche,  that  is  our  Lordes  wyfe.       43 

Johan  Baptyst,  Anthony,  and  Jherome,  with  many  mo, 
Folowed  me  here  in  holte,  hethe,  and  in  wyldernes  ; 

I  ever  with  them  went  where  they  dyde  go, 

Nyght  and  daye  towarde  the  waye  of  ryghtwysenes.  47 

I  am  the  chefe  lanterne  of  all  holynes, 

Of  prelates  and  preestes  I  am  theyr  patron  ; 
No  armure  so  stronge  in  no  dystresse,  — 

Habergyon,  helme,  ne  yet  no  jeltron.  51 

To  fyght  with  Sathan  I  am 1  the  champyon 

That  dare  abyde  and  manfully  stonde  ; 
Fendes  fle  away  where  they  se  me  come. 

But  I  wyll  shewe  you  why  I  came  to  this  londe :  55 

For  to  preche  and  teche  of  Goddes  soth  sawes 

Ayenst  vyce,  that  dothe  rebell  ayenst  hym  and  hys  lawes. 

PYTE.     God  spede,  good  brother  !  Fro  whens  came  you 
now? 

CONT.     Syr,  I  came  frome  Perseveraunce  to  seke  you. 

PYTE.     Why,  syr,  knowe  you  me  ? 

CONT.     Ye,  syr,  and  have  done  longe  ;  your  name  is  Pyte. 

PYTE.     Your  name  fayne  wolde  I  knowe.  62 

CONT.     In-dede  I  am  called  Contemplacyon, 

That  useth  to  lyve  solytaryly  ; 
In  wpdes  and  in  wyldernesse3  I  walke  alone 

Bycause  I  wolde  saye  my  prayers  devoutly. 

I  love  not  with  me  to  have  moche  company, 
But  Perseveraunce  of te' with  me  doth  mete 

Whan  I  thynke  on  thoughtes  that  is  full  hevenly,  — 
Thus  he  and  I  togyder  full  swetely  doth  slepe.  70 

1  W. ;  Haw.  Haz.  am  I. 

2  W. ;  Haw.  wyldenesse;  Haz.  wildness. 


HYCKESCORNER.  389 

PYTE.     I  thanke  God  that  we  be  mette  tcgyder. 

CONT.     Syr,  I  trust  that  Perseveraunce  shortly  wyll  come 

hyder. 

PYTE.     Than  I  thynke  to  here  some  good  tydynge. 
CONT.     I  warant  you,  brother,  that  he  is  comynge.  74 

\Perseveraunce  enters,  and  addresses  the  audience^ 

PERS.     The  eternal  God,  that  named  was  Messyas, 

He  gyve  you  grace  to  come  to  his  glorye, 
Wher  ever  l  is  joye,  in  the  celestyall  place, 

Whan  you  of  Sathan  wynneth  the  vyctorye  !  . 

Every  man  ought  to  be  gladde  to  have  [me]  in  company, 
For  I  am  named  good  Perseveraunce, 
That  ever  is  guyded  by  vertuous  governaunce.  81 

I  am  never  varyable,  but  doth  contynue, 

Styll  goynge  upwarde  the  ladder  of  grace, 
And  lode  2  in  me  planted  is  so  true, 

And  fro  the  poore  man  I  wyll  never  tourne  my  face.  85 

Whan  I  go  by  my-selfe,  ofte  I  do  remembre 

The  grete  kyndnes  8  that  God  shewed  unto  man, 

For  to  be  borne  in  the  moneth  of  Decembre, 

Whan  the  daye  waxeth  shorte  and  the  nyght  longe  : 
Of  his  goodnesse  that  Champyon  stronge 

Descended  downe  fro  the  Fader  of  Ryghtwysnes, 

And  rested  in  Mary,  the  floure  of  mekenes.  92 

Now  to  this  place  hyder  come  I  am 
To  seke  Contemplacyon  my  kynnesman. 

CONT.     What,  brother  Perseveraunce?     Ye  be  welcome  !      95 

PERS.     And  so  be  you  also,  Contemplacyon. 

CONT.     Loo  !  here  is  our  mayster,  Pyte. 

PERS.     Now  truly,  ye  be  welcome  in-to  this  countre ! 

PYTE.     I  thanke  you  hertely,  syr  Perseveraunce. 

1  Haz.  Wherever.  2  QV.  love.  3  W.  knydnes. 


390  HYCKESCORNER. 

PERS.  Mayster  Pyte,  one  thynge  is  com  to  my  remembraunce  : 

What  tythynges  here  you  now  ? 

PYTE.     Syr,  suche  as  I  can  I  shall  shewe  you  :  102 

I  have  herde  many  men  complayne  pyteously  ; 

They  saye  they  be  smyten  with  the  swerde  of  poverty 

In  every  place  where  I  do  go. 
Fewe  frendes  poverte  dooth  fynde, 
And  these  ryche  men  ben  unkynde, 

For  theyr  neyghboures  they  wyll  nought  do. 
Wydowes  dooth  curse  lordes  and  gentyll-men, 
For  they  constrayne  l  them  to  mary  with  theyr  men, 

Ye,  wheder  they  wyll  or  no.  ill 

Men  mary  for  good,  and  that  is  dampnable, 

Ye,  with  olde  women  that  is  fyfty  and  beyonde. 

The  peryll  now  no  man  drede  wyll,  — 

All  is  not  Goddes  lawe  that  is  used  in  londe  ; 
Beware  wyll  they  not  tyll  Deth  in  his  honde 

Taketh  his  swerde  and  smyteth  asonder  the  lyfe  vayne 

And  with  his  mortall  stroke  cleveth  the  herte  atwayne.  118 

They  trust  so  in  Mercy,  the  lanterne  of  bryghtnesse, 
That  no-thynge  do  they  drede  Goddes  Ryghtwysnes.2 

PERS.     O  Ihesu,  syr,  here  is  a  hevy  tydynge  ! 

PYTE.     Syr,  this  is  trewe  that  I  do  brynge. 

CONT.     How  am  I  beloved,  Mayster  Pyte,  where  ye  come? 

PYTE.     In  good  faythe,  people  have  now  small  devocyon; 
And  as  for  with  you,  brother  Contemplacyon,  125 

There  medleth  fewe  or  none. 

CONT.     Yes,  I  trust  that  prestes  love  me  wele. 

PYTE.     But  a  fewe,  i-wys,  and  some  never  a  dele.8 

CONT.     Why,  syr,  without  me  they  maye  not  lyve  clene  ! 

PYTE.     Nay,  that  is  the  leest  thought  4  that  they  have  of 

f  yf  tene,  1 30 

And  that  maketh  me  full  hevy. 

1  Misprinted  contrayne  in  Haw.  8  \y.  adele. 

2  Misprinted  ryghtwynes  in  Haw.         *  W.  though  ;  Haw.  Haz.  thought. 


HYCKESCORNER.  391 

CONT.     How,  trowe  you  that  there  be  no  remedy? 

PYTE.     Full  harde  ;  for  synne  is  now  so  grevous  and  yll 
That  I  thynke  that  it  be  growen  to  an  impossyble. 
And  yet  one  thynge  maketh  me  ever  mournynge,  135 

That  prestes  lack  utterance  to  showe  theyr  cunnynge  ; 
And,  al  the  whyle  that  clerkes  do  use  so  grete  synne, 
Amonge  the  lay  people  loke  never  for  no  mendynge. 

PERS.     Alas  !  that  is  a  hevy  case 
That  so  grete  synne  is  used  in  every  place  ; 
I  praye  God  hyt1  amende  !  141 

PYTE.2     Now  God,  that  ever  hath  ben  mannes  frende, 
Some  better  tydynges  soone  us  sende  ; 

For  now  I  must  be  gone. 
Fare-well,  good  bretherne  3  here, 
A  grete  erande  I  have  elles-w'here, 

That  must  nedes  be  done. 
I  trust  I  wyll  not  longe  tary  ; 
Theder  wyll  I  hye  me  shortely, 

And  come  agayne  whan  I  have  done.  150 

PERS.     Hyder  agayne  I  trust  you  wyll  come  ; 
Therfore  God  be  with  you  ! 

PYTE.2     Syr,  nedes  I  must  departe  now  ; 
Ihesu  me  spede  this  daye  !  {Exit.} 

PERS.     Now,  brother  Contemplacyon,  let  us  go  our  waye.       1 55 

[Exeunt ;  enter  Frewyll^\ 

FREWYLL.     Aware,  felowes,  and  stande  a-roume ! 
How  saye  you,  am  not  I  a  goodly  persoune  ?  4 

I  trowe  you  knowe  not  suche  a  geste. 
What !  syrres,  I  tell  you,  my  name  is  Frewyll  ; 
I  may  chose  wheder  I  do  good  or  yll, 

But,  for  all  that,  I  wyll  do  as  me  lyst.  161 

J-  W. ;  Haw.  it.  3  w. ;  Haw.  brethrene. 

2  These  two  speeches  are  assigned  to  Contemplacyon  by  W.  Haw.  and 
Haz.,  but  see  Notes.  *  W.  personue. 


392  HYCKESCORNER. 

My  condycyons  ye  knowe  not,  perde  ; 

I  can  fyght,  chyde  and  be  mery  ; 

Full  soone  of  my  company  ye  wolde  be  wery 

And  you l  knewe  all ! 

What  !  fyll  the  cup  and  make  good  chere  ; 
I  trowe  I  have  a  noble  here  ! 
Who  lente  hyt  me  ?     By  Cryste,  a  frere  ; 

And  I  gave  hym  a  fall !  169 

Where  be  ye,  syr  ?  be  ye  at  home  ? 

[Searching  his  pockets."] 

Kockes  passyon,  my  noble  is  tourned  to  a  stone ! 
Where  laye  I  last?     Beshrewe  your  herte,  Jone  ! 

Now,  by  these  bones,  she  hath  begyled  me  ! 
Let  se !  a  peny  my  souper,  a  pece  of  flesshe  x  pence, 
My  bedde  ryght  nought :  let  all  this  expence  — 

Now,  by  these  bones,  I  have  lost  an  halfpeny!  176 

Who  laye  there  ?     My  felowe  Imagynacyon. 
He  and  I  had  good  communycacyon 

Of  syr  Johan  and  Sybbell,  179 

How  they  were  spyed  in  bedde  togyder, 
And  he  prayed  her  ofte  to  come  thyder, 

For  to  synge  lo-le,  lo-lowe  ! 
They  twayne  togyder  had  good  sporte  ; 
But  at  the  stewes  syde  I  lost  a  grote, 

1  trowe  I  shall  never  ythe !  185 

My  felowe  promysed  me  here  to  mete  ; 
But  I  trowe  the  horesone  be  a-slepe 

With  a  wenche  some-where. 
How,  Imagynacyon  !  come  hyder  ! 
And  you  thryve,  I  lose  a  feder ! 

Beshrowe  your  herte,  appere  !  191 

i  W. ;  Haw.  Haz.  ye. 


HYCKESCORNER.  393 

[Enter  Imagynacyon.} 

I  MAG.     What,  how,  how!  who  called  after  me? 
FREWYLL.     Come  nere  !  Ye  shall  never  i-the  ! 

Where  have  ye  be  so  longe  ?  194 

I  MAG.     By  God,  with  ma  hyt  is  l  all  wronge, 

I  have  a  payre  of  sore  buttockes  ; 
All  in  irons  was  my  songe, 

Even  now  I  satte  gyved  in  a  payre  of  stockes.  198 

FREWYLL.     Cockes  passyon,  and  how  so? 

I  MAG.     Syr,  I  wyll  tell  you  what  I  have  do  :  200 

I  mette  with  a  wenche,  and  she  was  fayre, 
And  of  love  hertely  I  dyde  praye  her, 

And  so  promysed  her  monaye. 
Syr,  she  wynked  on  me  and  sayd  nought, 
But  by  her  loke  I  knewe  her  thought ; 
Than  Sn-to  loves  daunce  we  were  brought, 

That  we  played  the  pyrdewy. 
I  wote  not  what  we  dyde  togyder, 
But  a  knave  catchpoll  nyghed  us  nere, 

And  so  dyde  us  aspye.  210 

A  strype  he  gave  me  ;   I  fled  my  touche  ; 

And  frome  my  gyrdle  he  plucked  my  pouche,  — 

By  your  leve,  he  lefte  me  never  a  peny. 
Loo,  nought  have  I  but  a  buckyll, 
And 2  yet  I  can  imagen  thynges  sotyll, 

For  to  get  monaye  plenty. 
In  Westminister  Hall  every  terme  I  am  ; 
To  me  is  kynne  many  a  grete  gentyll-man  ; 

I  am  knowen  in  every  countre.  219 

And  I  were  deed,  the  lawyers  thryfte  were  lost, 
For  this  wyll  I  do  yf  men  wolde  do  cost : 

1  W. ;  misprinted  it  in  Haw. 

2  Haw.  Ane  ;  no  note  in  my  collation. 


394  HYCKESCORNER. 

Prove  ryght  wronge,  and  all  by  reason, 
And  make  men  lese  bothe  hous  and  londe  ; 

For  all  that  they  can  do  in  a  lytell  season.  224 

Peche  men  of  treason  prevyly  I  can, 
And,  whan  me  lyst,  to  hange  a  trewe  man. 

If  they  wyll  me  monaye  tell, 
Theves  I  can  helpe  out  of  pryson  ; 
And  into  lordes  favours  I  can  get  me  soone, 

And  be  of  theyr  prevy  counseyll.  230 

But,  Frewyll,  my  dere  broder, 
Sawe  you  nought 1  of  Hyckscorner  ? 
He  promysed  me  to  come  hyder. 

FREWYLL.     Why,  syr,  knowest  thou  hym  ? 

I  MAG.     Ye,  ye,  man  ;  he  is  full  nye  of  my  kynne,  235 

And  in  Newgate  we  dwelled  togyder, 
For  he  and  I  were  bothe  shakeled  in  a  fetter. 

FREWYLL.    Syr,  laye  you  beneth,  or  on  hye  on  the  seller  ?  2 

I  MAG.     Nay,  ywys,  amonge  the  thyckest  of  yemen  of  the 
coller. 

FREWYLL.     By  God,  than  ye  were  in  grete  fere  !  240 

IMAG.     Syr,  had  I  not  be,  cc  had  be  thrast  in  an  haltere. 

FREWYLL.     And  what  lyfe  have  they  there,  al  that  grete 
sorte  ? 

IMAG.    By  God,  syr,  ones  a  yere  som  taw  halts  of  Burporte  ; 
Ye,  at  Tyburne  there  stondeth  the  grete  frame, 
And  some  take  a  fall  that  maketh  theyr  neck  lame.  245 

FREWYLL.     Ye,  but  can  they  than  go  no  more  ? 

IMAG.     O  no,  man  ;  the  wrest  is  twyste  so  sore  ; 
For  as  soone  as  they  have  sayd  in  manus  tuas  ones, 
By  God,  theyr  brethe  is  stopped  at  ones. 

FREWYLL.     Why,  do  they  praye  in  that  place  there  ?  250 

IMAG.     Ye,  syr  ;  they  stonde  in  grete  fere, 
And  so  fast  tangled  in  that  snare, 
Hyt  falleth  to  theyr  lotte  to  have  the  same  share. 

i  Haz. ;  W.  not.  *  W.  Haw.  Haz.  seller. 


HYCKESCORNER.  395 

FREWYLL.    That  is  a  knavisshe  syght  to  se  them  totter  on 
a  beme. 

I  MAG.     Syr,  the  horesones  coude  not  convaye  clene  ;  255 

For,  and  they  coude  have  caryed  by  crafte,  as  I  can, 
In  processe  of  yeres  eche  of  them  sholde  be  a  gentyll-man. 
Yet,  as  for  me,  I  was  never  thefe. 

If  my  handes  were  smyten  of,  I  can  stele  with  my  tethe  ; 
For  ye  knowe  well  there  is  crafte  in  daubynge.  260 

I  can  loke  in  a  mannes  face  and  pycke  his  purse  ; 
And  tell  newe  tydynges  that  was  never  trewe,  ywys, 
For  my  hood  is  all  lyned  with  lesynge. 

FREWYLL.  Ye,  but  wente  ye  never  to  Tyburne  a  pylgrym- 
age? 

IMAG.     No,  ywys,  nor  none  of  my  lynage  ;  x  265 

For  we  be  clerkes  all,  and  can  our  necke-verse, 
And  with  an  oyntment  the  iuges  ha#de  I  can  grece 
That  wyll  hele  sores  that  be  uncurable. 

FREWYLL.     Why,  were  ye  never  founde  reprovable?  269 

IMAG.     Yes,  ones  I  stall  a  hors  in  the  felde, 

And  lepte  on  hym  for  to  have  ryden  my  waye  ; 

At  the  last  a  bayly  me  mette  and  behelde 

And  badde  me  stonde,  —  than  was  I  in  a  fraye.  273 

He  asked  wheder  with  that  horse  I  wolde  gon, 

And  than  I  tolde  hym  hyt  was  myne  owne  ; 

He  sayd  I  hadde  stollen  hym,  and  I  sayde  naye  ; 

"  This  is,"  sayd  he,  "  my  brothers  hacknaye  "  ; 

For,  and  I  had  not  sensed  me  without  fayle, 

By  Our  Lady,  he  wolde  have  lad  me  strayte  to  iayle  ; 

And  than  I  tolde  hym  the  horse  was  lyke  myne,  280 

A  browne  baye,  a  long  mane,  and  dyde  halte  behyne,  — 

Thus  I  tolde  hym  that  such  an-other  hors  I  dyde  lacke, 

And  yet  I  never  sawe  hym  nor  came  on  his  backe. 

So  I  delyvered  hym  the  hors  agayne  ; 

And  whan  he  was  gone,  than  was  I  fayne  ;  285 

1  W.  lygnages  ;  Haw.  lynages ;  Haz.  lineage. 


396  HYCKESCORNER. 

For,  and  I  had  not  scused  me  the  better, 

I  knowe  well  I  sholde  have  daunsed  in  a  fetter. 

FREWYLL.     And  sayd  he  no  more  to  the  but  so  ? 

IMAG.     Yes,  he  pretended  me  moche  harme  to  do  ; 
But  I  tolde  hym  that  mornynge  was  a  grete  myste,  290 

That  what  horse  hyt  was  I  ne  wyste  ; 
Also  I  sayd  that  in  my  heed  I  had  the  megryne 
That  made  me  dasell  so  in  myne  eyen 
That  I  myght  not  well  se  : 
And  thus  he  departed  shortely  frome  me.  295 

FREWYLL.     Ye,  but  where  is  Hycke-scorner  now  ? 

IMAG.     Some  of  these  yonge  men  hath  hydde  hym  in 
Theyr  bosomes,  I  warraunt  you,1 
Let  us  make  a  crye,  that  he  may  us  here ! 

FREWYLL.     How,  how!2     Hycke-scorner  appere !  300 

I  trowe  thou  be  hyde  in  some  cornere. 

HYCKE-SCORNER  [without].    A-le3  the  helme!  a-le  !  8  vere  ! 
shot  of !  vere  sayle !  vera ! 

FREWYLL.     Cockes  body !  herke,  he  is  in  *  a  shyppe  on 
the  see ! 

[Enter  Hycke-scorner. ,~\ 

HYCKE.    God  spede  !    God  spede  !    Who  called  after  me  ? 

IMAG.     What!  brother,  welcome,  by  this  precyous  body !    305 
I  am  gladde  that  I  you  se  ; 
Hyt  was  tolde  me  that  ye  were  hanged.5 
But  out  of  what  countre  come  ye  ? 

HYCKE.     Syr,6  I  have  ben  in  many  a  countre  ; 
As,  in  Fraunce,  Irlonde,  and  in  Spayne,  310 

Portyngale,  Sevyll,  also  in  Almayne, 
Freslonde,  Flaunders,  and  in  Burgoyne, 
Calabre,  Poyle,7  and  Erragoyne, 

1  These  two  lines  ought  perhaps  to  be  printed  as  one. 

3  W. ;  Haw.  Haz.  How  now. 

8  W.  Haw.  ale;  Haz.  ale  (=  heel). 

*  Haw.  Haz.  omit  in. 

5  Qy.  That  ye  were  hanged  hyt  was  told  me. 

6  W. ;  Haw.  Haz.  Syrs.  1  Haz.  Fugle. 


HYCKESCORNER.  397 

Brytayne,  Byske,  and  also  in  Gascoyne, 

Naples,  Grece,  and  in  myddes  of  Scotlonde, 

At  Cape1  Saynt  Vyncent,  and  in  the  Newe-founde  Ilonde  ;      316 

I  have  ben  in  Gene  and  in  Cowe, 
Also  in  the  londe  of  Rumbelowe, 

Thre  myle  out  of  hell  ; 
At  Rodes,  Constantyne,  and  in  Babylonde, 
In  Cornewale,  and  in  Northumberlonde, 

Where  men  sethe  russhes  in  gruell ;  322 

Ye,  syr,  in  Caldey,  Tartare,  and  Inde, 

And  in  the  Londe  of  Women,  that  fewe  men  dothe  fynde  : 

In  all  these  countres  have  I  be. 

FREWYLL.     Syr,  what  tydynges  here  ye  now  on  the  see  ?     326 

HYCKE.     We  mette  of  shyppes  a  grete  nave, 

Full  of  people  that  wolde  in-to  Irlonde, 
And  they  came  out  of  this  countre  ; 

They  wyll  never-more  come  to  Englonde.  330 

IMAG.     Whens  were  the  shyppes  of  them  ?    Knowest  thou 
none? 

HYCKE.     Herken,  and  I  wyll  shewe  you  theyr  names  eche 

one  : 

Fyrst  was  the  Regent  with  the  Myghell,  of  Brykylse, 
The  George,  with  the  Gabryell  and  the  Anne,  of  Foye, 
The  Starre  of  Salte-Asshe,  with  the  Ihesus  of  Plumoth,  335 

Also  the  Hermytage  with  the  Barbara  of  Darmouth, 
The  Nycolas  and  the  Mary  Bellouse  of  Brystowe, 
With  the  Elyn  of  London  and  James  also. 
Grete  was  the  people  that  was  in  them, 

All  true  relygyous  and  holy  women  :  340 

There  was  Trouthe  and  his  kynnesmen,2 
With  Pacyence,  Mekenes,  and  Humylyte, 
And  all  true  maydens  wyth  theyr  vyrgynyte, 
Ryall  prechers,  Sadnes,  and  Charyte, 

1  Haw.  Haz.  comma  after  Cape  (=  Cape  of  Good  Hope). 

2  W.  Haw.  kynnesman  ;  Haz.  kinsmen. 


398  HYCKESCORNER. 

Ryght  Conscyence,  and  Fayth,  with  Devocyon,  345 

And  all  true  monkes  that  kepe  theyr  relygyon,1 

True  byers  and  sellers,  and  almes-dede  2  doers, 

Pyteous  people,  that  be  of  synne  destroyers, 

With  Just  Abstynence  and  good  counseyllers, 

Mourners  for  synne,  with  Lamentacyon,  350 

And  good  ryche  men  that  helpeth  folke  out  of  pryson, 

True  Wedlocke  was  there  also, 

With  yonge  men  that  ever  in  prayer  dyde  go  : 

The  shyppes  were  laden  with  suche  unhappy  company  ; 

But  at  the  laste  God  shope  a  remedy,  355 

For  they  all  in  the  see  were  drounde, 

And  on  a  quycke-sonde  they  strake  to  grounde,  — 

The  see  swallowed  them  everychone, 

I  wote  well  alyve  there  scaped  none. 

IMAG.     Lo !  now  my  herte  is  gladde  and  mery  ;  360 

For  joye  now  let  us  synge  "  dery,  dery !  " 

HYCKE.     Felowes,  they  shall  never  more  us  withstonde, 
For  I  se  them  all  dr[o]wned  in  the  Rase  of  Irlonde. 

FREWYLL.     Ye,  but  yet  herke,  Hycke-scorner  : 
What  company  was  in  your  shyppe  that  came  over?  365 

HYCKE.     Syr,  I  wyll  ayd3  you  to  understande  ; 
There  were  good  felawes  above  fyve  thousande, 
And  all  they  ben  kynne  to  us  thre  : 
There  was  Falshode,  Favell,  and  Sotylte,4 

Ye,  theves  and  hores,  with  other  good  company,  370 

Lyers,  bacbyters,  and  flaterers  the  whyle, 
Braulers,  lyers,  getters,  and  chyders, 
Walkers  by  nyght,  with  grete  murderers, 
Overthwarte  gyle[rs],5  and  joly  carders, 

Oppressers  of  people,  with  many  swerers  ;  375 

There  was  False  Lawe,  with  Oryble  Vengeaunce, 

1  W.  Haw.  relyon ;  Haz.  religion. 

2  W.  dede;  Haw.  dedes;  Haz.  deed. 
8  W.  Haw.  sayd;  corr.  by  Haz. 

4  W.  fotylte;  Haw.  jolyte;  Haz.  jollity. 

5  Corr.  by  Haz. 


HYCKESCORNER.  399 

Froward  Obstynacyon,  with  Myschevous  Governaunce, 

Wanton  wenches,  and  also  mychers, 

With  many  other  of  the  devylles  offycers  ; 

And  Haterede,  that  is  so  myghty  and  stronge,  380 

Hath  made  a-vowe  for-ever  to  dwell  in  Englonde. 

IMAG.     But  is  that  true  that  thou  doste  shewe  now? 

HYCKE.     Syr,  every  worde  as  I  do  tell  you. 

FREWYLL.     Of  whens  is  your  shyppe  ?  of  London  ? 

HYCKE.     Ye,  ywis,  frome  thens  dyde  she  come  ;  385 

And  she  is  named  the  Envy,  — 
I  tell  you,  a  grete  vessell  and  a  myghty  ; 
The  owner  of  her  is  called  Yll  Wyll, 
Brother  to  Jacke  Poller  of  Shoters  Hyll. 

IMAG.     Syr,  what  offyce  in  the  shyppe  bare  ye? 

HYCKE.     Mary,  I  kepte  a  fayre  shoppe  of  baudrye  :  391 

I  had  thre  wenches  that  were  full  praty, 

Jane  true,  Ann  1  thryftles,  and  wanton  Sybble  ; 

If  ye  ryde  her  a  journay,  she  will  make  you  wery, 

For  she  is  trusty  at  nede. 
If  ye  wyll  hyre  her  for  your  pleasure, 
I  warraunt,  tere  her  shall  ye  never, 

She  is  so  sure  in  dede  ; 
Ryde  and  you  wyll  ten  tymes  a  daye, 
I  warraunt  you  she  wyll  never  saye  naye,  — 

My  lyfe  I  dare  lay  to  wedde.  401 

IMAG.     Now  plucke  up  your  hertes,  and  make  good  chere, 

These  tydynges  lyketh  me  wonder  wele. 
Now  vertu  shall  drawe  arere,  arere  ! 

Herke,  felous,  a  good  sporte  I  can  you  tell  :  405 

At  the  stues  we  wyll  lye  to-nyght, 

And,  by  my  trouth,  yf  all  go  aryght, 

I  wyll  begyle  some  praty  wenche 

To  gette  me  monaye  at  a  pynche. 

How  saye  you?  shall  we  go  thyder?  410 

i  W.  Haw.  Haz.  and. 


4OO  HYCKESCORNER. 

Let  us  kepe  company  all  togyder, 

And  I  wolde  that  we  had  Goddes  curse 

If  we  some-where  do  not  get  a  purse  !  413 

Every  man  here  his  dagger  naked  in  his  honde, 
And,  if  we  mete  a  treue  man,  make  hym  stonde, 

Or  elles  that  he  here  a  strype  ! 
If  that  he  struggle  and  l  make  ony  werke, 
Lyghtly  stryke  hym  to  the  herte, 

And  throwe  hym  into  Temmes  quyte  !  419 

FREWYLL.     Naye,  thre  knaves  in  a  lease  is  good  at  nale  ! 
.    But,  thou  lubber,  Imagynacyon, 

That  cukcolde,  thy  fader,  —  where  is  he  become  ? 
At  Newgate  dothe  he  ly  styll  at  gayle  ?  423 

I  MAG.     Avant,  horsone  !  thou  shalt  bere  me  a  strype  ! 

Sayst  thou  that  my  moder  was  a  hore  ? 
FREWYLL.     Naye,  syr,  but  the  last  nyght 

I  sawe  syr  Johne  and  she  tombled  on  the  flore.  427 

IMAG.     Now,  by  Kockes  herte,  thou  shake  lose  an  arme ! 
HYCKE.     Naye,  syr,  I  charge  you,  do  hym  no  harme. 
IMAG.     And  thou  make  to  moche,  I  wyll  breke  thy  heed, 

to  !  430 

HYCKE.     By  Saynt  Mary,  and  I  wyst  that,  I  wolde  be  ago  ! 
IMAG.     Aware  !  aware  !  the  horsone  shall  aby  ! 
His  preest  wyll  I  be,  by  Cockes  body ! 

HYCKE.     Kepe  pease,  lest  knaves  blode  be  shedde. 
.     FREWYLL.     By    God.    if    his   was    nought,  myn   was  as 

badde !  435 

IMAG.     By  Kockes  herte,  he  shall  dye  on  this  dager ! 
HYCKE.     By  Our  Lady,  than  wyll  ye  be  straungled  in  a 

halter. 
IMAG.     The  horesone   shall  etc  hym  as  fer  as   he   shall 

wade  ! 
HYCKE.     Beshrewe  your  herte  !  and  put  up  your  blade  ! 

1  Haw.  ond ;  no  note  in  my  collation. 


HYCKESCORNER.  4<DI 

Shethe  your  whytell !  or  by  Hyz  l  that  was  never  borne  440 

I  wyll  rappe  you  on  the  costarde  with  my  home  ! 
What  !  wyll  ye  playe  all  the  knave  ? 

IMAG.     By  Kockes  herte,  and  thou  a  buffet  shalte  have  ! 

[Imagynacyon  and  Hycke-scorner  fight .] 

FREWYLL.     Lo,  syrres,  here  is  a  fayre  company,  God  us 


save 


For,  yf  ony  of  us  thre  be  mayre  of  London,  445 

I-wys,  ywys,  I  wyll  ryde  to  Rome  on  my  thorn ! 

Alas  !  a !  se  !  is  not  this  a2  grete  feres  ? 

I  wolde  they  were  in  a  myll-pole  above  the  eres  ; 

And  than,  I  durst  warraunt,  they  wold  departe  anone. 

HYCKE.     Helpe  !  helpe  !  for  the  passyon  of  my  soule  !         450 
He  hath  made  a  grete  hole  in  my  poule, 
That  all  my  wytte  is  set  to  the  grounde. 
Alas,  a  leche  for  to  helpe  my  wounde ! 

IMAG.     Naye,  ywys,  horesone,  I  wyll  bete  the  or  I  go ! 

FREWYLL.     Alas,  good  syr !  what  have  I  do  ?  455 

IMAG.     Ware!   make   rome !   he   shall   have   a  strype,  I 
trowe ! 

[Enter  Pyte.~\ 

PYTE.     Peas,  peas,  syrres  !  I  commaunde  you  ! 

IMAG.     Avaunt,  old  churle  !     Whens  comest  thou? 
And  thou  make  to  moche,  I  shall  breke  thy  browe 
And  sende  the  home  agayne !  460 

PYTE.     A  !  good  syr,  the  peas  I  wolde  have  kepte  fayne  ; 
Myne  offyce  is  to  se  no  man  slayne, 
And,  where  they  do  amyse,  to  gyve  them  good  counseyl 
Synne  to  forsake,  and  Goddes  lawe  them  tell. 

IMAG.     A  !  syr,  I  wende  thou  haddest  ben  drowned  and 


gone 


But  I  have  spyed  that  there  scaped  one.  466 

HYCKE.     Imagynacyon,  do  by  the  counseyll  of  me  : 
Be  a-greed  with  Frewyll,  and  let  us  good  felowes  be  ; 

1  Haz.  changes  to  Jis.        .  2  Qy,  are  not  these. 


4O2  HYCKESCORNER. 

And  than,  as  for  this  chorle,  Pyte, 
Shall  curse  the  tyme  that  ever  he  came  to  londe ! 
I  MAG.     Brother  Frewyll,  give  me  your  honde  ! 

And  all  myne  yll  wyll  I  forgyve  the.  472 

FREWYLL.     Syr,  I  thanke  you  hertely. 
But  what  shall  we  do  with  this  chorle,  Pyte  ? 

I  MAG.     I  wyll  go  to  hym,  and  pyke  a  quarell,  475 

And  make  hym  a  thefe  and  saye  he  dyde  stele 
Of  myne  forty  pounde  in  a  bagge. 

FREWYLL.     By  God,  that  tydynges  wyll  make  hym  sadde ! 
And  I  wyll  go  fetche  a  payre  of  gyves, 
For,  in  good  faythe,  he  shall  be  sette  fast  by  the  heles.  480 

HYCKE.     Have  ado  lyghtly,  and  be  gone, 
And  let  us  twayne  with  hym  alone  ! 

FREWYLL.     Now,  farewell  ;  I  beshrewe  you  everychone  ! 

Hfcrfc] 

HYCKE.     Ho,  ho!     Farewell,  you  shrewe1,  and  no  mo!        484 

I  MAG.     Thou   lewde  felowe,  sayst   thou   that   thy  name   is 

Pite  ? 
Who  sente  the  hyder  to  controll  me  ? 

PYTE.     Good  syr,  hyt  is  my  properte 
For  to  dyspyse  synfull  lyvynge. 
And  unto  vertu  men  to  brynge 

If  that  they  wyll  do  after  me.  490 

IMAG.     What,  syr,  art  thou  so  pure  holy? 
A  !  se  !  this  caytyfe  wolde  be  praysed,  trowe  I.2 
And  you  thryve  this  yere,  I  wyll  lose  a  peny ! 
Lo !  syrres,  outwarde  he  bereth  a  fayre  face, 
But,  and  he  mette  with  a  wenche  in  a  prevy  place,  495 

I  trowe  he  wolde  shewe  her  but  lytell  grace, 
By  God,  ye  maye  trust  me  ! 

HYCKE.     Loo  !  wyll  ye  not  se  this  caytyves  menynge  ? 
He  wolde  destroye  us  all,  and  all  our  kynne  ! 

1  W.  Haw.  Haz.  Frewyll  you  threwe;  emend,  by  Kittredge. 
2W.  Haw.  Haz.  I  trowe. 


HYCKESCORNER.  403 

Yet  had  I  lever  se  hym  hanged  by  the  chynne  500 

Rather  than  that  sholde  be  brought  aboute. 
And  with  this  dager  thou  shalte  have  a  cloute, 
Without  thou  wylte 1  lyghtly  be  gone ! 

IMAG.     N aye,  brother,  laye  honde  on  hym  soone  !  504 

For  he  japed  my  wyfe  and  made  me  cukolde, 
And  yet  the  traytour  2  was  so  bolde 

That  he  stale  forty  pounde  of  myne  in  monaye. 
HYCKE.  By  Saynt  Mary,  than  shall  he  not  scape  ! 
We  wyll  lede  hym  streyght  to  Newgate  ; 

For-ever  there  shall  he  lye  !  510 

[Enter  Frewyll.] 

FREWYLL.     A,  se  !  a,  se,  syrres,  what  I  have  brought ! 

A  medycyne  for  a  payre  of  sore  shynnes. 
At  the  Kynges  Benche,  syrres,  I  have  you  sought  ; 

But,  I  praye  you,  who  shall  were  these  [rynges]  ?  514 

HYCKE.     By  God,  this  felowe  that  maye  not  go  hence, 

I  wyll  go  gyve  hym  these  hose-rynges  ; 
Now,  yfaythe,  they  be  worth  forty  pence, 

But  to  his  hondes  I  lacke  two  bondes. 
IMAG.  Holde,  horesone,  here  is  an  halter! 
Bynde  hym  fast  and  make  hym  sure.  520 

PYTE.     O  men,  let  Trouth,  that  is  the  trewe  man, 

Be  your  guyder,  or  elles  ye  be  forlore  ; 8 
Laye  no  fals  wytnes,  as  nye  as  ye  can, 

On  none,  for  afterwarde  ye  wyll  repent  hyt  full  sore.          524 

FREWYLL.     Naye,  naye,  I  care  not  therfore ! 

HYCKE.  Ye,  whan  my  soule  hangeth  on  the  hedge,  cast  stones!4 
For  I  tell  the  playnly,  by  Kockes  bones, 
Thou  shalte  be  guyded  and  layd  in  irons,  — 
They  fared  even  so. 

1  W.  Haw.  Haz.  have  an  unnecessary  be  here. 

2  Haw.  traytove  ;  not  noticed  in  collation. 

3  W.  Haw.  Haz.  forlorne. 

*  Haz.  hedge-cast,  -which  is  unintelligible  to  me. 


404  HYCKESCORNER. 

PYTE.  Awaye,1  syr  !  what  have  I  do? 

IMAG.     Well,  well  ;  that  thou  shalte  knowe  or  thou  go.         530 

PYTE.     O  syrres,  I  se  hyt  can  not  be  amended. 

You  do  me  wronge,  for  I  have  not  offended. 

Remembre  God,  that  is  our  heven  Kynge, 

For  he  wyll  rewarde  you  after  your  deservynge,  534 

Whan  Deth  with  his  mace  dooth  you  areest  ; 

We  all  to  hym  owe  fewte2  and  servyce. 
Fro  the  ladder  of  lyfe  downe  he  wyll  the  threste  ; 

Than  maystershyp  may  not  helpe  nor  grete  offyce.  538 

FREWYLL.     What!  Dethe,  and  he  were  here,  he  sholde  syt 

by  the ! 

Trowest  thou  that  he  be  able  to  stryve  with  us  thre  ? 
Nay,  nay,  nay  ! 

IMAG.  Well,  felawes,  now  let  us  go  our  waye, 

For  at  3  Shoters  Hyll  we  have  a  game  to  playe.  542 

HYCKE.     In  good  fayth,  I  wyll  tary  no  lenger  4  space. 
FREWYLL.     Beshrewe  hym  for  me  that  is  last  out  of  this 
place ! 

[Exeunt  I  magynacyon,  Frewyll  and  Hycke-scorner^\ 

PYTE.     Lo,  lordes,  they  may  curs  the  tyme  they  were  borne 
For  the  wedes  that  over-groweth  the  corne  ; 
They  troubled  me  gyltelesse,  and  wote  not  why  ; 
For  Goddes  love,  yet  wyll  I  suffre  pacyently.  548 

We  all  may  say  weleaway 
For  synne  that  is  now-adaye  ; 5 
Loo,  vertue  is  vanysshed  for  ever  and  aye  :  6 
Worse  was  hyt  never  ! 

1  Haz.  changes  Awaye  to  Well-a-way. 

2  Haz.  prints  fea'ty. 
«  W.  Haz. ;  Haw.  a. 

*  W.  lender ;  Haw.  Haz.  lenger. 

6  These  two  lines  as  one  in  W.  Haw.  Haz. 

8  W.  Haz. ;  Haw.  ever  daye. 


HYCKESCORNER.  405 

We  have  plente  of  grete  othes 
And  clothe  ynoughe  in  our  clothes, 
But  charyte  many  men  lothes  : 

Worse  was  hyt  never! 
Alas  !  now  is  lechery  called  love,  indede, 
And  murdure  named  manhode  in  every  nede  5 
Extorsyon  is  called  lawe,  so  God  me  *  spede  : 

Worse  was  hyt  never !  560 

Youth  walketh  by  nyght  with  swerdes  and  knyves, 
And,  ever  amonge,  true  men  leseth  theyr  lyves  ; 
Lyke  heretykes  we  occupy  other  mennes  wyves 

Now-a-dayes  in  Englonde. 

Baudes  be  the  dystryers  of  many  yonge  women, 
And  full  lewde  counseyll  they  gyve  unto  them  ; 
How  you  do  mary,  beware,  you  yonge  men, 

The  wyse  never  taryeth  to  longe.  568 

There  be  many  grete  scorners, 

But  for  synne  there  be  fewe  mourners  ; 

We  have  but  fewe  true  lovers 

In  no  place  now-a-dayes. 
There  be  many  goodly  gylte  knyves  ; 2 
And,  I  trowe,8  as  well  4  apparaylled  wyves, 
Yet  many  of  them  be  unthryfty  of  theyr  lyves 

And  all  set  in  pryde  to  go  gaye.  576 

Mayers  on  synne  dooth  no  correccyon, 
Gentyll-men  6  bereth  trouthe  adowne, 
Avoutry  is  suffred  in  every  towne, 

Amendyment  is  there  none. 

And  Goddes  commaundementes  we  breke  them  all  y  • 
Devocyon  is  gone  many  dayes  syn  ; 
Let  us  amende  us,  we  trewe  Crysten  men 

Or  Deth  make  you  grone  !  584 

1  W.  Haz. ;  Haw.  we.  8  W. ;  Haw.  Haz.  knowe. 

2  W.  knyues;  Haw.  Haz.  knaves.  *  W. ;  Haw.  Haz.  many. 
*  W.  Haw  With  gentyll  men ;  Haz.  changes  With  to  While. 


4O6  HYCKESCORNER. 

Courtyers  go  gaye  and  take  lytell  wages, 

And  many  with  harlottes  at  the  taverne  hauntes, 

They  be  yemen  of  the  wrethe  that  be  shakled  in  gyves, 

On  themselves  they  have  no  pyte. 
God  punyssheth  full  sore  with  grete  sekenesse, 
As  pockes,  pestylence,  purple  [s]  and  axes  ; 
Some  dyeth  sodeynly  that  deth  full  peryllous  ; 

Yet  was  there  never  so  grete  poverte.  592 

There  be  some  sermones  made  by  noble  doctoures, 
But  truly  the  fende  dothe  stoppe  mennes  eres  ; 
For  God  nor  good  man  some  people  not  feres  : 

Worse  was  hyt  never  ! 
All  trouth  is  not  best  sayd, 
And  our  prechers  now-adayes  be  halfe  afrayde. 
Whan  we  do  amende,  God  wolde  be  well  apayde  : 

Worse  was  hyt  never !  600 

\Enter  Contemplacyon  and  Perseveraunce.] 

CONT.     What,  mayster  Pyte  ;  how  is  hyt  with  you  ? 

PERS.     Syr,  we  be  sory  to  se  you  in  this  case  now. 

PYTE.     Bretherne,1  here  were  thre  peryllous  men, 
Frewyll,  Hycke-scorner  and  Imagynacyon  ; 

They  sayd  I  was  a  thefe  and  layd  felony  upon  me,  605 

And  bound  me  in  irons  as  ye  maye  se. 

CONT.     Where  be  the  traytours  become  nowe  ? 

PYTE.     In  goode  faythe,  I  can  not  shewe  you. 

PERS.     Brother,  let  us  unbynde  hym  of  his  bondes. 

CONT.     Unlose  the  fete  and  2  the  hondes.  610 

[They  release  Pyte.} 

PYTE.     I  thanke  you  for  your  grete  kyndnes 
That  you  two  shewe  in  this  dystresse  ; 
For  they  were  men  without  ony  mercy, 
That  delyteth  all  in  myschefe  and  tyranny. 

PERS.     I  thynke  they  wyll  come  hyder  agayne,  615 

Frewyll  and  Imagynacyon,  bothe  twayne  ; 

1  Haw.  Brethrene.  2  Qy.  insert  \, 


HYCKESCORNER.  407 

Them  wyll  I  exorte  to  vertuous  lyvynge 

And  unto  vertu  them  to  brynge 

By  the  helpe  of  you,  Contemplacyon. 

CONT.     Do  my  counseyll,  brother  Pyte  :  620 

Go  you  and  seke  them  throughe  the  countre, 
In  vyllage,  towne,  bourghe  and  cyte, 

Throughe-out  all  the  realme  of  Englonde  ; 
Whan  you  them  mete,  lyghtly  them  arest 
And  in  pryson  put  them  faste, 

Bynde  them  sure  in  irons  stronge, 
For  they  be  so  faste  l  and  sotyle 
That  they  wyll  you  begyle 

And  do  true  men  wronge.  629 

PERS.     Brother  Pyte,  do  as  he  hath  sayd  ; 

In  every  quarter  loke  you  aspye, 
And  let  good  watche  for  them  be  layde 

In  all  the  haast  that  thou  can,  and  that  pryvely ; 
For,  and  they  come  hyder,  they  shall  not  scape 
For  all  the  crafte  that  they  can  make.  635 

PYTE.     Well,  than  wyll  I  hye  one  as  fast  as  I  maye 

And  travayle  throughe  every  countre  ; 
Good  watche  shall  be  layde  in  every  waye 

That  they  stele  not  into  sentwary.  639 

Now  fare-wele,  bretherne  ;  and  praye  for  me, 

For  I  must  go  hens,  in-dede. 

PERS.     Now  God  be  your  good  spede  !  2 

CONT.     And  ever  you  defende,  whan  you  have  nede  ! 

PYTE.     Now,  bretherne  3  bothe,  I  thanke  you.        [Exit.}       644 

[Enter  Frewytt.~\ 

FREWYLL.     Make  you  rome  for  a  gentylman,  syrs,  and  pease! 
Duegarde,4  seygnours,  tout  le  preasse  ! 

1  Qy.  false.  3  Haw.  brethrene. 

2  W.  spende.  4  Haz.  prints  Dieu  garde. 


408  HYCKESCORNER. 

And  of  your  jangelynge  yf  ye  wyll  sease 

I  wyll  tell  you  where  I  have  be.1 
Syrres,  I  was  at  the  taverne  and  dronke  wyne  ; 
Methought  I  sawe  a  pece  that  was  lyke  myne, 
And,  syr[res],  all  my  fyngers  were  arayed  with  lyme, 

So  I  convayed  2  a  cuppe  manerly.  652 

And  yet,  ywys,  I  played  all  the  fole  ; 
For  there  was  a  scoler  of  myne  own  scole, 

And,  syr[res],  the  horesone  aspyed  me. 
Than  was  I  rested  and  brought  in  pryson  ; 
For  woo  than  I  wyste  not  what  to  have  done, 

And  all  bycause  I  lacked  monaye. 
But  a  frende  in  courte  is  worth  a  peny  in  purs  ; 
For  Imagynacyon,  myne  owne  felowe,  i-wys, 

He  dyde  helpe  me  out  full  craftely  :  66 1 

Syrres,  he  walked  thrughe  Holborne 

Thre  houres  after  the  sonne  was  downe, 

And  walked  up  towarde  Saynte  Gyles  in  the  Felde  ; 

He  hoved  styll,  and  there  behelde,  665 

But  there  he  coude  not  spede  of  his  praye  ; 

And  strayght  to  Ludgate  he  toke  the  waye,  — 

Ye  wote  well  that  potycaryes  wake  8  very  late,  — 

He  came  to  a  dore,  and  pryvely  spake 

To  a  prentes  for  a  peny-worth  of  uforbyum,  670 

And  also  for  a  half-peny-worth  of  alom  plomme  ; 

This  good  servaunte  served  hym  shortely, 

And  sayd,  "  Is  there  ought  elles  that  you  wolde  bye? " 

Than  he  asked  for  a  mouthfull  of  quycke  brymstone  ; 

And,  doune  in-to  the  seller  whan  the  servant  was  gone,  675 

Asyde  as  he  kest  his  eye, 

A  grete  bagge  of  monaye  dyde  he  spye, 

Therin  was  an  hondred  pounde. 

He  trussed  hym  to  his  fete  and  yede  his  waye  rounde  ; 

He  was  lodged  at  Newgate  at  the  Swanne,  680 

l  W.  Haw.  Haz.  bene.  «  W.  Haw.  Haz.  walke. 

*  Haw ;  W.  conuayued. 


HYCKESCORNER.  409 

And  every  man  toke  hym  for  a  gentyll-man  ; 

So  on  the  morowe  he  delyvered  me 

Out  of  Newgate  by  this  polyce  ; 

And  now  wyll  I  daunce  an[d]  make  ryall  chere ! 

But  I  wolde  Imagynacyon  were  here,  685 

For  he  is  pereles  at  nede. 

Labour  to  hym,  syrres,  yf  ye  wyl  your  maters  spede. 

Now  wyll  I  synge  and  lustely  sprynge  ! 

But  whan  my  feters  on  my  leges  dyde  rynge, 

I  was  not  gladde,  perde  !  but  now  :  Hey,  trolly,  lolly  !  690 

Let  us  se  who  can  descaunt  on  this  same. 

To  laughe  and  gete  monaye,1  hyt  were  a  good  2  game  ! 

What  !  whome  have  we  here  ? 

A  preest,  a  douctoure,  or  else  a  frere  !  694 

What,  mayster  doctour  Dotypoll, 

Can  not  you  preche  well  in  a  blacke  boll, 

Or  dispute  ony  dyvynyte? 
If  ye  be  cunnynge  I  wyll  put  hyt  in  a  prefe  : 
Good  syr,  why  do  men  etc  mustarde  with  befe  ? 

My  8  questyon  can  you  assoyle  me  ?  700 

PERS.  Peas,  man  !  thou  talkest  lewdly  ; 
And  of  thy  lyvynge,  I  reed,  amende  the  ! 
FREWYLL.  Avaunt,  catyfe  !  dost  thou  thou  me? 

I  am  come  of  good  kynne,  I  tell  the : 
My  moder  was  a  lady  of  the  stewes  blode  borne, 
And,  knyght  of  the  halter,  my  fader  ware  an  home  ; 
Therfore  I  take  hyt  in  full  grete  scorne 

That  thou  sholdest  thus  cheke  me.  708 

CONT.     Abyde,  felowe  ;  thou  ca[n]st4  lytell  curtesye  ! 

Thou  shalte  be.  charmed  or  thou  hens  pase, 
For  thou  troubled  Pyte  and  layd  on  hym  felony. 

Where  is  Imagynacyon,  thy  felawe  that  was?  712 

1  W.  Haw.  manaye;  Haz.  money.        8  W.  Haw.  Haz.  By. 

2  Misprinted  goed  in  W.  *  W.  Haw.  cast ;  Haz.  hast. 


4IO  HYCKESCORNER. 

FREWYLL.     I  defye  you  bothe  !     Wyll  you  arest  me  ? 

PERS.  Naye,  naye,  thy  grete  wordes  maye  not  helpe  the. 
Fro  us  thou  shalte  not  escape.  7 1  5 

FREWYLL.  Make  rome,  syrres,  that  I  maye  breke  his  pate  ! 
I  wyll  not  be  taken  for  them  bothe. 

CONT.     Thou  shalt  abyde,  whether  thou  be  leve  or  lothe ! 

[Seines  him.] 

Therfore,  good  sone,  lysten  unto  me, 

And  marke  these  wordes  that  I  do  tell  the  :  720 

Thou  hast  folowed  thyne  one  wyll  many  a  daye 

And  lyved  in  synne  without  amendement ; 
Therfore  in  thy  conceyte  assaye 

To  axe  God  mercy,  and  kepe  his  commaundement ; 
Than  on  the  he  wyll  have  pyte 
And  brynge  the  to  heven,  that  ioyfull  cyte.  726 

FREWYLL.     What,  horesone,  wyll  ye  have  me  now  a  fole? 
Naye,  yet  had  I  lever  be  captayne  of  Calays  ; 

For,  and  I  sholde  do  after  your  scole 

To  lerne  to  pater  to l  make  me  pevyss[h]e, 
Yet  had  I  lever  loke  with  a  face  full  thevysshe  : 

And  therfore  prate  no  lenger  here 

Leest  my  knaves  fyste  hytte  you  under  the  yere !  733 

What,  ye  dawes,  wolde  ye  reed  me 

For  to  lese  2  my  pleasure  in  youth  and  jolyte, 

To  basse  and  kysse  my  swete  trully  mully, 

As  Jane,  Gate,  Besse,  and  Sybble,  [to]  ? 
I  wolde  that  hell  were  full  of  suche  prymmes  ! 
Than  wolde  I  renne  thyder  on  my  pynnes 

As  fast  as  I  myght  go.  740 

PERS.     Why,  syr,  wylte  3  thou  not  love  vertu 
And  forsake  thy  synne  for  the  love  of  God  Almyghty  ?  742 

1  Qy.  wolde.  8  Misprinted  whylte  in  Haw. 

2  W.  Haw.  lesese. 


HYCKESCORNER.  411 

FREWYLL.     What,  God  Almyghty  ?    By  Goddesfast  at  Salys- 
bury, — 

And  I  trowe  Eester-day  fell  on  Whytsonday  that  yere,  — 
There  were  v  score  save  an  hondred  in  my  company, 

And  at  Pety  Judas  we  made  ryall  chere. 
There  we  had  good  ale  of  Myghelmas  bruyng, 
There  heven-hye  lepynge  and  spryngynge  ;  748 

And  thus  dyde  I 

Lepe  out  of  Burdeaus  unto  Caunterbury,     . 

Almost  ten>myle  bytwene  !  751 

CONT.     Frewyll,  forsake  all  this  worlde  wylfully  here 
And  change  by-tyme  !     Thou  oughtest  to  stonde  in  fere, 
For  Fortune  wyll  tourne  her  whele  to1  swyfte, 
That  clene  fro  thy  welthe  she  wyll  the  lyfte.  755 

FREWYLL.     What,  lift  me  ?     Who  ?     And  Imagynacyon 

were  here  now, 

I-wys,  with  his  fyst  he  wolde  all  to-cloute  you. 
Hens,  horesone[s],  tary  no  lenger  here, 
For  by  Saynt  Pyntell  the  apostell  I  swere 

That  I  wyll  dryve  you  bothe  home,  —  760 

And  yet  I  was  never  wonte  to  fyght  alone ; 
Alas,  that  I  had  not  one  to  bolde  me  ! 
Than  you  sholde  se  me  playe  the  man  shamfully. 
Alas,  hyt  wolde  do  me  good  to  fyghte ! 

How  saye  you,  lordes,  shall  I  smyte?  765 

Have  amonge  you,  by  this  lyght ! 
Hens,  horesones!  and  home  at  ones  ! 
Or  with  my  wepen  I  shall  breke  your  bones ! 
A  vaunt,  you  knave[s],  walke,  by  my  counseyll! 

PERS.     Sone,  remembre  the  grete  paynes  of  hell ;  770 

They  are  so  horryble  that  no  tonge  can  tell ; 
Beware  lest  thou  thyder  do  go  ! 

FREWYLL.     Naye,  by  Saynt  Mary,  I  hope,  not  so ! 
I  wyll  not  go  to  the  devyll  whyle  I  have  my  lyberte  ; 

i  W.  Haw.  to ;  Haz.  so. 


4 1  2  HYCKESCORNER. 

He  shall  take  the  laboure  to  fet  me  and  he  wyl  have  me  !         775 

For  he  that  wyll  go  to  hell  by  his  wyll  voluntary,1 

The  devyll  and  the  worlewynde  go  wyth  hym  ! 

I  wyll  you  never  fro  thens  tydynges  brynge  ; 

Go  you  before  and  shewe  me  the  waye, 

And  as  to  folowe  you  I  wyll  not  saye  naye,  780 

For,  by  Goddes  body,  and  you  be  in  ones, 

By  the  masse,  I  wyll  shytte  the  dore  at  ones, 

And  than  be  ye  taken  in  a  pytfall  ! 

CONT.     Now,  Ihesus  soone  defende  us  frome  that  hole  ! 
For  Qiti  est  in  inferno,  nulla  est  redemptio  :  785 

Holy  Job  spake  these  wordes  full  longe  ago. 

FREWYLL.     Nay,  I  have  done  and  you  lade  2  out  Latyn 

with  scopes  ! 8 

But  therewith  can  you  cloute  me  a  payre  of  botes  ? 
By  Our  Lady,  ye  sholde  have  some  werke  of  me  ; 
I  wolde  have  them  well  underlayd  and  easely,  790 

For  I  use  alwaye  to  go  one  4  the  one  syde. 

And  trowe  ye  how?     By  God,  in  the  stockes  I  sate  tyde6 

I  trowe  a  thre  wekes,  and  more  a  lytell  stounde  ; 
And  there  I  laboured  sore  daye  by  daye, 
And  so  I  tred  my  shone  inwarde,  in  good  faye. 

Lo,  therefore,  methynke,  you  must  soule  them  rounde  !     796 

If  you  have  ony  newe  botes,  a  payre  I  wolde  by  ; 

But  I  thynke  your  pryce  be  to  hye. 

Syr,  ones  at  Newgate  I  bought  a  payre  of  sterrups,* 

A  myghty  payre  and  a  stronge  ;  800 

A  hole  yere  I  ware  them  so  longe, 

But  they  came  not  fully  to  my  knee, 

And  to  cloute  them  hyt  cost  not  me  a  peny. 

Even  now,  and  ye  go  thyder,  ye  shall  fynde  a  grete  hepe  ; 

And  you  speke  in  my  name,  ye  shall  have  good  chepe.  805 

-1  W. ;  Haw.  Haz.  voluntarily.  *  Haz.,  of  course,  on. 

»  Haz.  laid.  6  \V.  Haw.  tyd(e)-;  Haz.  till. 

'  W. ;  Haw.  Haz.  scope.  '  W. ;  Haw.  sterrup. 


HYCKESCORNER.  4 1  3 

PERS.     Syr,  we  came  never  there,  ne  never  shall  do. 

FREWYLL.     Mary,  I  was  taken  in  a  trap  there,  and  tyde 

by  the  to, 

That  I  halted  a  grete  whyle  and  myght  not  go. 
I  wolde  ye  bothe  sate  as  fast  there  ;  809 

Than  sholde  ye  daunce  as  a  bere, 

And  all  by  gangelynge  of  your  chaynes. 
CONT.     Why,  syr,  were  ye  there  ? 

FREWYLL.     Ye,  and  that  is  sene  by  my  braynes  ;  813 

For,  or  I  came  there,  I  was  as  wyse  as  a  woodcock, 

And,  I  thanke  God,  as  wytte  as  a  haddocke. 

Yet  I  trust  to  recover,  as  other  dose  ; 

For,  and  I  had  ones  as  moche  wytte  as  a  gose, 

I  sholde  be  marchaunt  of  the  banke. 

Of  golde  than  I  sholde  have  many  a  franke  ; 

For  yf  I  my^t  make  iii  good  vyages  to  Shoters  Hyl,  820 

And  have  wynde  and  weder  at  my  wyll, 

Than  wolde  I  never  travell  the  see  more. 

But  hyt  is  harde  to  kepe  the  shyppe  fro  the  shore, 

And  yf  hyt  happe  to  ryse  a  storme  ; 

Than  throwen  in  a  rase,1  and  so  aboute  borne,  825 

On  rockes  or  brachis  for  to  ronne, 

Elles  to  stryke  grounde  at  Tyborne,  — 

That  were  a  myschevous  case  ! 

For  that  rocke  of  Tyborne  is  so  peryllous  a  place 

Yonge  galauntes  dare  not  venture  into  Kente,  830 

But  whan  theyr  monaye  is  gone  and  spente, 

With  theyr  longe  botes  2  they  rowe  on  the  baye,  — 

And  ony  man-of-warre  lye  by  the  waye, 

They  must  take  a  bote  and  throwe  the  helme  a-le  ; 3 

And  full  harde  hyt  is  to  scape  that  grete  jeopardye,  835 

For  at  Saynt  Thomas  of  Watrynge  and  they  stryke  a  sayle, 

Than  must  they  ryde  in  the  haven  of  hempe  *  without  fayle. 

1  Haz.  raft.  2  Haz.  prints  boots. 

8  W.  Haw.  Haz.  ale;  in  spite  of  the  rhyme,  Haz.  explains  it  as  heel. 

*  Haz.  hemp ;  W.  Haw.  hepe. 


414  HYCKESCORNER. 

And  were  not  these  two  jeopordous  place  in-dede, 

Ther  is  many  a  marchaunt  that  thyder  wolde  spede. 

But  yet  we  have  a  sure  canell J  at  Westmynster,  840 

A  thousande  shyppes  of  theves  therin  may  ryde  sure  ; 

For  yf  they  may  have  ankerholde  and  grete  spendynge, 

They  may  lyve  as  mery  as  ony  kynge. 

PERS.     Good  s  wote,  syr,  there  is  a  pyteous  lyvynge  ! 
Than  ye  drede  not  the  grete  mayster  above  ?  845 

Sone,  forsake  thy  mysse  for  his  love, 
And  than  mayst  thou  come  to  the  blisse  also. 

FREWYLL.     Why,  what  wolde  you  that  I  sholde  do  ? 

CONT.     For  to  go  towarde  heven.3 

FREWYLL.     Mary,  and  you  wyll  me  thyder  brynge,4 
I  wolde  do  after  you. 

PERS.     I  praye  you  remembre  my  wordes  now  :  852 

Frewyll,  bethynke  the  that  thou  shalte  dye, 

And  of  the  houre  thou  art 6  uncertayne, 
Yet  by  thy  lyfe  thou  mayst  fynde  a  remedy  ; 

For,  and  thou  dye  in  synne,  all  laboure  is  in  vayne,  — 

Than  shall  thy  soule  be  styll  in  payne, 
Loste  and  dampned  for  evermore, 

Helpe  is  past,  thoughe  thou  wolde  fayne, 
Than  thou  wylte  curse  the  tyme  that  thou  were  bore.  860 

FREWYLL.     Syr,  yf  ye  wyll  undertake  that  I  saved  shall 

be, 
I  wyll  do  all  the  penaunce  that  you  wyll  sette  me. 

CONT.     If  that  thou  for  thy  synnes  be  sory, 
Our  Lorde  wyll  forgyve  them  the.6  864 

FREWYLL.     Now  of  all  my  synnes  I  axe  God  mercy  ; 

Here  I  forsake  synne  and  trust  to  amende  ; 
I  beseche  Ihesu,  that  is  moost  myghty, 

To  forgyve  all  that  I  have  offende.  868 

1  Haz.,  of  course,  channel.  *  Qy.  me  brynge  therto. 

2  HAZ.  prints  God.  8  Haz.;  W.  Haw.  are,  which  is  possible. 
*  Qy.  Towarde  heven  for  to  go.      6  W.  Haw.  Haz.  the  them. 


HYCKESCORNER.  415 

PERS.     Our  Lorde  now  wyll  shewe  the  his  mercy  ; 

A  new  name  thou  nede  none  have, 
For  all  that  wyll  to  heven  hye, 
By  his  owne  frewyll  he  must  forsake  folye,  — 

Than  i»  he  sure  and  save.  873 

CONT.     Holde  here  a  newe  garment, 

And  here-after  lyve  devoutly, 
And  for  thy  synnes  do  ever  repente,  — 

Sorowe  for  thy  synnes  is  very  remedy. 

And,  Frewyll,  ever  to  Vertue  applye  ; 
Also  to  Sadnes  gyve  ye  attendaunce, 
Let  hym  never  out  of  remembraunce. 
FREWYLL.     I  wyll  never  frome  you,  syr  Perseveraunce  ;          88 1 

With  you  wyll  I  abyde  bothe  daye  and  nyght, 

Of  mynde  never  to  be  varyable, 
And  Goddes  cowmandementes  to  kepe  them  ryght 

In  deed  and  worde,  and  ever  full  stable. 

PERS.     Than  heven  thou  shalte  have,  without  fable, 
But  loke  that  thou  be  stedfaste, 
And  let  thy  mynde  with  good  wyll  laste  !  888 

[Enter  Imagynacyon.] 

IMAG.     Huffe  !  huffe  !  huffe  !  who  sent  after  me? 
I  am  Imagynacyon,  full  of  jolyte  ; 

Lorde,  that  my  herte  is  lyght  ! 
Whan  shall  I  perysshe  ?     I  trowe,  never ! 
By  Cryst,  I  recke  not  a  feder  ! 

Even  now  I  was  dubbed  a  knyght.  894 

Where  ?     At  Tyburne.     Of  the  coller. 
And  of  the  stewes  I  am  made  controller, 

Of  all  the  houses  of  lechery  ; 
There  shall  no  man  playe  doccy  there, 
At  the  Bell,  Hertes  Home,  ne  elles-where, 

Without  they  have  leve  of  me.  900 


41 6  HYCKESCORNER. 

But,  syrres,  wote  ye  why  I  am  come  hyder  ? 

By  Our  Lady,  to  gyder 1  good  company  togyder. 

Sawe  ye  no[ugh]t  of  my  felawe,  Frewyll? 

I  am  aferde  lest  he  be  serchynge  on  a  hyll ; 

By  God,  than  one  of  us  is  begyled  !  905 

What  felawe  is  this  that  in  this  cote  is  fyled? 

Kockes  deth  !  whome  have  we  here? 

What  !  Frewyll,  myn  owne  fere? 

Arte  thou  out  of  thy  mynde  ? 

FREWYLL.    God  graunte  the  waye  to  heven  I  maye  fynde,  910 
For  I  forsake  thy  company. 

IMAG.     Goddes  armes  !  my  company?  and  why? 

FREWYLL.     For  thou  lyvest  to  synfully. 

IMAG.     Alas  !  tell  me  how  hyt  is  with  the  ! 

FREWYLL.     Forsake  thy  synne  for  the  love  of  me.  915 

IMAG.     Kockes  herte  !  arte  thou  waxed  made? 

FREWYLL.     Whan  I  thynke  on  my  synne,  it  makes  me  ful 
sade. 

IMAG.     Goddes  woundes  !  who  gave  the  that  counsell  ? 

FREWYLL.     Perseveraunce  and  Contemplacyon,  I  the  tell. 

IMAG.    A  vengeaunce  on  them  !  I  wolde  they  were  in  hell !  920 

FREWYLL.     Amende,  Imagynacyon,  and  mercy  crye  ! 

IMAG.      By   Goddes   sydes,   I   hadde  lever  be   hanged 

on  hye ! 

Naye,  that  wolde  I  not  do  ;  I  hadde  lever  dye. 
By  Goddes  passyon,  and  I  hadde  a  longe  knyfe, 
I  wolde  bereve  these  two  horesones  of  theyr  lyfe !  925 

How,  how  ! z  twenty  pounde  8  for  a  dagger ! 

CONT.     Peas,  peas,  good  sone,  and  speke  softer ! 
And  amende  or  Deth  drawe  his  draught, 
For  on  the  he  wyll  stele  full  softe,  — 
He  gyveth  never  no  man  warnynge, 
And  ever  to  the  he  is  comynge  : 
Therfore  remembre  the  well.  932 

1  W.  Haw.  togyder ;  Haz.  to  gather. 

2  Haz.  modernizes  to  how,  not  ho. 
8  W. ;  Haw.  Haz.  pounds. 


HYCKESCORNER.  4 1  7 

IMAG.     A  !  horesone,  if  I  were  jayler  of  hell, 

I-wys,  some  sorowe  sholde  thou  fele  ; 
For  to  the  devyll  I  wolde  the  sell, 

Than  sholde  ye  have  many  a  sory  mele.  936 

I  wolde  never  gyve  you  mete  ne  drynke  ; 

Ye  sholde  faste,  horesones,  tyll  ye  dyde  stynke 

Even  as  a   roten   dogge, —  ye,  by  Saynt   Tyburne   of 

Kent! 

PERS.     Imagynacyon,  thynke  what  God  dyd  for  the  : 
On  Good  Frydaye  he  hanged  on  a  tre, 

And  all  his  precyous  blode  spent ; l  942 

A  spere  dyde  ryve  his  herte  a-sonder  ; 

The  gates  he  brake  up  with  a  clappe  of  thunder, 

And  Adam  and  Eve  there  delyvered  he.  945 

IMAG.     What  devyll,  what  is  that  to  me? 
By  Goddes  fast,  I  was  ten  yere  in  Newgate, 
And  many  more  felawes  with  me  sate, 
Yet  he  never  came  there  to  helpe  me  ne  my  company. 

CONT.     Yes,  he  holpe  the,  or  thou  haddest  not  ben  here 
now. 

IMAG.     By  the  masse,  I  can  not  sewe2  you  ;  951 

For  he  and  I  never  dranke  togyder, 

Yet  I  knowe  many  an  ale-stake  ; 
Neyther  at  the  stues,  I  wyste  8  \\ytn  never  come  4  thyder. 

Gooth  he  arrayed  in  whyte  or  in  blacke  ?  955 

For,  and  he  out  of  pryson  hadde  holpe  me, 
I  knowe  well  ones  I  sholde  hym  se  ; 
I  praye  you,  what  gowne  wereth  he  ?  5 

PERS.     Syr,  he  halpe  you  out  by  his  myght. 

1  W.  Haw.  Haz.  And  spent  all  his  precyous  blode. 

2  W.  Haw.  Haz.  shewe. 
8  Haz.  i-wis. 

•*  W. ;  Haw.  Haz.  he  never  came.  • 

6  W.  Haw.  Haz.  What  gowne  wereth  he,  I  praye  you  ? 


41 8  HYCKESCORNER. 

I  MAG.     I  can  not  tell  you,  by  this  lyght !  960 

But  me  thought  that  I  laye  there  to  longe  ; 
And  the  horesone  fetters  were  so  stronge 
That  hadde  almost  brought  my  necke  out  of  joynt. 

PERS.    Amende,  and  thou  shalt  knowe  hym,  sone,1 
That  delyvered  the  out  of  pryson  ;  965 

And,  yf  thou  wylt  forsake  thy  mysse, 
Surely  thou  shalt  come  to  the  blysse 
And  be  inherytoure  of  heven.  968 

IMAG.     What,  syr,  above  the  mone? 

Naye,  by  the  masse  ;  then  sholde  I  fall  soone  ! 

Yet  I  kepe  not  to  clymme  so  hye  ; 
But  to  clymme  for  a  byrdes  neste, 
There  is  none  bytwene  eest  and  weste 

That  dare  therto  ventre  better  than  I  !  974 

But  to  ventre  to  heven  — what  and  my  fete  slyppe? 

I  knowe  well  than  I  sholde  breke  my  necke, 

And,  by  God,  than  hadde  I  the  worse  syde  ! 

Yet  had  I  lever  be  by  the  nose  tyde 

In  a  wenches  ars  somewhere 

Rather  than  I  wolde  stande  in  that  grete  fere,  980 

For  to  go  up  to  heven.     Naye,  I  praye  you  lette  be. 

FREWYLL.     Imagynacyon,  wylte  thou  do  by  the  counseyll 
of  me? 

IMAG.     Ye,  syr,  by  my  trouthe,  what-somever  it  be. 

FREWYLL.     Amende  yet,  for  my  sake  ; 
Hyt  is  better  be-tyme  than  to  late  ! 
How  saye  you,  wyll  you  Goddes  hestes  fulfyll? 

IMAG.     I  wyll  do,  syr,  even  as  you  wyll.  987 

But,  I  praye  you,  let  me  have  a  newe  cote 
Whan  I  have  nede,  and  in  my  purse  a  grote 
Than  wyll  I  dwell  with  you  styll. 

1  W.  Haw.  Haz.  Amende,  sone,  and  thou  shalt  knowe  hym. 


HYCKESCORNER.  419 

FREWYLL.     Beware,   for   whan   thou    arte   buryed    in    the 

grounde, 
Fewe  frendes  for  the  wyll  be  founde  : 

Remembre  this  styll !  993 

I  MAG.     No-thynge  drede  I  so  sore  as  deth  ; 

Therefore  to  amende  I  thynke  hyt  be  tyme. 
Synne  have  I  used  all  the  dayes  of  my  breth, 

With  pleasure,  lechery  and  mysusynge,  997 

And  spent  amys  my  v  wyttes  ;  therfore  I  am  sory. 
Here  of  all  my  synnes  I  axe  God  mercy. 

PERS.     Holde  !  here  is  a  better  clothynge  for  the.  1000 

And  loke  that  thou  forsake  thy  foly  ;  . 

Be  stedfast,  loke  that  thou  fall  never. 

IMAG.     Now,  here  I  forsake  my  synne  for-ever. 

FREWYLL.     Syr,  wayte  thou  now  on  Perseveraunce, 
For  thy  name  shall  be  called  Good  Remembraunce  ;  1005 

And  I  wyll  dwell  with  Contemplacyon, 
And  folowe  hym  where-ever  he  become. 

CONT.     Well,  are  ye  so  bothe  agrede  ? 

IMAG.     Ye,  syr,  so  God  me  spede  !  1009 

PERS.     Syr,  ye  shall  wete  on  me  soone, 

And  be  Goddes  servaunt  daye  and  nyght ; 
And  in  every  place  where  ye  become 

Gyve  good  counseyle  to  every  wyght ;  1013 

And  men  axe  your  name,  tell  you  Remembraunce, 

That  Goddes  lawe  kepeth  truly  every  daye, 
And  loke  that  ye  forget  not  Repentaunce  ; 

Than  to  heven  ye  shall  go  the  nexte  waye,  1017 

Where  ye  shall  se  in  the  hevenly  quere 

The  blessyd  company  of  sayntes  so  holy, 
That  lyved  devou[t]ly  whyle  they  were  here  : 

Unto  the  whiche  blysse  I  beseche  God  Almyghty 


42O  HYCKESCORNER. 

To  brynge  there  your  soules  that  here  be  present 

And  unto  vertuous  lyvynge  that  ye  maye  applye, 
Truly  for  to  kepe  his  commaundemente.1  1024 

Of  all  our  myrthes  here  we  make  an  ending  ; 2 

Unto  the  blysse  of  heven  Ihesu  your  soules  brynge  !  1026 

AMEN. 

Enprynted 

by  me  Wynkyn  de 

Worde. 

1  Haz.  commandments.  2  W.  Haw.  Haz.  ende. 


THE   PLAY    OF   WYT   AND    SCIENCE. 

BY   JHON    REDFORD. 


Printed  from  the  edition  by  J.  O.  Halliwell  (Shakespeare  Society,  1848).  In 
the  footnotes,  H.  indicates  this  edition.  The  MS.,  formerly  the  property  of  B.  H. 
Bright,  Esq.,  is  now  in  the  British  Museum.  The  play  is  incomplete  at  the 
beginning ;  a  reconstruction  of  the  plot  of  the  missing  part  will  be  found  in  vol. 
Ill  of  this  book. 


[Dramatis  Personae. 

WYT.  STUDY. 

SCIENCE.  DYLYGENCE. 

REASON.  INSTRUCCION. 

EXPERYENCE.  TEDIOUSNES. 

CONFYDENCE.  IDELLNES. 

HONEST  RECREACION,  SHAME. 

CUMFORT,  QUYCKNES,  STRENGTH. 
FAME,  RYCHES,  FAVOR,  WOORSHYP.] 


REASON.     Then  in  remembrance  of  Reson  hold  yee 
A  glas  of  Reson,  wherein  beholde  yee 
Youre-sealfe  to  youre-selfe.     Namely  when  ye 
Cum  neere  my  dowghter,  Science,  then  see 
That  all  thynges  be  cleane  and  try  eke  abowte  ye, 
Least  of  sum  sloogyshnes  she  myght  dowte  ye. 
Thys  glas  of  Reason  shall  show  ye  all ; 
Whyle  ye  have  that,  ye  have  me,  and  shall. 
Get  ye  foorth,  now  !     Instruccion,  fare-well ! 

INSTR.1     Syr,  God  keepe  ye  ! 

Heere  all  go  out  save  Resone. 
1  H.  gives  the  name  of  each  speaker  in  full. 


422  JHON    REDFORD. 

REASON.  And  ye  all  from  parell  !  10 

If  anye  man  now  marvell  that  I 
Woolde  bestowe  my  dowghter  thus  baselye, 
Of  truth  I,  Reson,  am  of  thys  mynde  • 
Where  partyes  together  be  enclynde 

By  gyftes  of  graces  to  love  ech  other,  15 

There  let  them  joyne  the  tone  wyth  the  toother. 
Thys  Wyt  such  gyftes  of  graces  hath  in  hym 
That  makth  my  dowghter  to  wysh  to  wyn  hym  : 
Yoong,  paynefull,  tractable  and  capax,  — 

Thes  be  Wytes  gyftes  whych  Science  doth  axe.  20 

And  as  for  her,  as  soone  as  Wyt  sees  her, 
For  all  the  world  he  woold  not  then  leese  her. 
Wherfore,  syns  they  both  be  so  meete  matches 
To  love  ech  other,  strawe  for  the  patches 

Of  worldly  mucke  !     Syence  hath  inowghe  25 

For  them  both  to  lyve.     Yf  Wyt  be  throwhe 
Stryken  in  love,  as  he  synes  hath  showde, 
I  dowte  not  my  dowghter  well  bestowde. 
Thende  of  hys  jornay  wyll  aprove  all. 

Yf  Wyt  hold  owte,  no  more  proofe  can  fall ;  30 

And  that  the  better  hold  out  he 1  may, 
To  refresh  my  soone,  Wyt,  now  by  the  way 
Sum  solas  for  hym  I  wyll  provyde. 
An  honest  woman  dwellth  here  besyde 

Whose  name  is  cald  Honest  Recreacion  ;  35 

As  men  report,  for  Wytes  consolacion 
She  hath  no  peere  ;  yf  Wyt  were  halfe  deade, 
She  cowld  revyve  hym,  —  thus  is  yt  sed. 
Wherfore,  yf  monye  or  love  can  hyre  her, 
To  hye  after  Wyt  I  wyll  desyre  her.  40 

[Exit  Reason.']     Confydence  citmth  in  with  a  pycture  of  Wyt. 

[CoNF.]     Ah  !  syr,  what  tyme  of  day  yst,  who  can  tell? 
The  day  ys  not  far  past,  I  wot  well, 
For  I  have  gone  fast  and  yet  I  see 

iH.ye. 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  423 

I  am  far  from  where  as  I  wold  be. 

Well,  I  have  day  inowgh  yet,  I  spye  ;  45 

Wherfore,  or  I  pas  hens,  now  must  I 

See  thys  same  token  heere,  a  playne  case, 

What  Wyt  hath  sent  to  my  ladyes  grace. 

[Examines  his  packet^ 

Now  wyll  ye  see  a  goodly  pycture 

Of  Wyt  hymsealfe,  hys  owne  image  sure,  —  50 

Face,  bodye,  armes,  legges,  both  lym  and  joynt,  — 

As  lyke  hym  as  can  be,  in  every  poynt  ; 

Yt  lakth  but  lyfe.     Well  I  can  hym  thanke, 

Thys  token  in-deede  shall  make  sum  cranke  ; 

For,  what  wyth  thys  pycture  so  well  faverde,  55 

And  what  wyth  those  sweete  woordes  so  well  saverd 

Dystyllyng  from  the  mowth  of  Confydence,  — 

Shall  not  thys  apese  the  hart  of  Science  ? 

Yes  ;  I  thanke  God  I  am  of  that  nature 

Able  to  compas  thys  matter  sure,  60 

As  ye  shall  see  now,  who  lyst  to  marke  yt, 

How  neately  and  feately  I  shall  warke  yt. 

[Exit  Confydence. ~\     Wyt  cumth  in  •without  Instruction,  -with  Study,  &c . 

[WYT.]     Now,  syrs,  cum  on ;  whyche  is  the  way  now, 
Thys  way  or  that  way  ?     Studye,  how  say  you  ? 

[Study  considers.] 

Speake,  Dylygence,  whyle  he  hath  bethowghte  hym.  65 

DYL.     That  way,  belyke  ;  most  usage  hath  wrowht  hym. 
STUD.     Ye,  hold  your  pesse !     Best  we  here  now  stay 

For  Instruccion  ;  I  lyke  not  that  waye. 
WYT.     Instruccion,  Studye  ?  I  weene  we  have  lost  hym. 

Instruccion  cumth  in. 

[INSTR.]     Indeade,  full  gently  abowte  ye  have  tost  hym !       70 
What  mene  you,  Wyt,  styll  to  delyghte 
Runnynge  before  thus,  styll  owt  of  syghte, 
And  therby  out  of  your  way  now  quyghte  ? 


424  JHON    REDFORD. 

What  doo  ye  here  excepte  ye  woold  fyghte  ? 

Cum  back  agayne,  Wyt,  for  I  must  choose  ye  75 

An  esyer  way  then  thys,  or  ells  loose  ye. 

WYT.     What  ayleth  thys  way?     Parell  here  is  none. 

INSTR.     But  as  much  as  your  lyfe  standth  upon  ; 
Youre  enmye,  man,  lyeth  heere  before  ye,  — 
Tedyousnes,  to  brayne  or  to  gore  ye !  80 

WYT.     Tedyousnes  ?     Doth  that  tyrant  rest 
In  my  way  now?     Lord,  how  am  I  blest 
That  occacion  so  nere  me  sturres 
For  my  dere  hartes  sake  to  wynne  my  spurres  ! 
Ser,  woold  ye  fere  me  with  that  fowle  theeafe,  85 

Wyth  whome  to  mete  my  desyre  is  cheafe  ? 

INSTR.     And  what  woold  ye  doo,  —  you  havyng  nowghte 
For  your  defence  ?  for  thowgh  ye  have  cawghte 
Garmentes  of  Science  upon  your  backe, 
Yet  wepons  of  Science  ye  do  lak.  90 

WYT.     What  wepons  of  Science  shuld  I  have  ? 

INSTR.     Such  as  all  lovers  of  ther  looves  crave, — 
A  token  from  Ladye  Science  wherbye 
Hope  of  her  favor  may  spryng,  and  therbye 

Comforte,  whych  is  the  weapon  dowteles  95 

That  must  serve  youe  agaynst  Tedyousnes. 

WYT.     Yf  hope  or  comfort  may  be  my  weapen, 
Then  never  with  Tedyousnes  mee  threten  ; 
For,  as  for  hope,  of  my  deere  hartes  f aver  — 
And  therby  comfort  —  inowghe  I  gather.  100 

INSTR.     Wyt,  here  me  !     Tyll  I  see  Confydence 
Have  browght  sum  token  from  Ladye  Science, 
That  I  may  feele  that  she  favorth  you, 
Ye  pas  not  thys  way,  I  tell  you  trew. 

WYT.     Whych  way  than  ? 

INSTR.  A  playner  way,  I  told  ye,  105 

Out  of  danger  from  youre  foe  to  hold  ye. 

WYT.     Instruccion,  here  me  !     Or  my  swete  hart 
Shall  here  that  Wyt  from  that  wreche  shall  start 
One  foote,  thys  bodye  and  all  shall  cracke  ! 


WYT   AND    SCIENCE.  425 

Foorth  I  wyll,  sure,  what-ever  I  lacke  !  no 

DYL.     Yf  ye  lacke  weapon,  syr,  here  is  one. 

WYT.     Well  sayde,  Dylygence,  thowe  art  alone  ! 
How  say  ye,  syr  ;  is  not  here  weapon  ? 

INSTR.     Wyth  that  weapon  your  enmy  never  threton, 
For  wythowt  the  returne  of  Confydence  115 

Ye  may  be  slayne,  sure,  for  all  Dylygence. 

DYL.     God,  syr  !  and  Dylygence,  I  tell  you  playne, 
Wyll  play  the  man  or  my  master  be  slayne  ! 

INSTR.     Ye  ;  but  what!  sayth  Studye  no  wurde  to  thys? 

WYT.     No,  syr  ;  ye  knowe  Studyes  ofyce  is  120 

Meete  for  the  chamber,  not  for  the  feeld. 
But  tell  me,  Studye,  wylt  thow  now  yeld  ? 

STUD.     My  hed  akth  sore  ;   I  wold  wee  returne  ! 

WYT.     Thy  hed  ake  now  ?     I  wold  it  were  burne ! 
Cum  on  ;  walkyng  may  hap  to  ese  the.  125 

INSTR.     And  wyll  ye  be  gone,  then,  wythout  mee  ? 

WYT.     Ye,  by  my  fayth ;  except  ye  hy  ye  after, 
Reson  shall  know  yee  are  but  an  h after. 

Exceat  Wyt,  Study  and  Dylygence. 

INSTR.     Well,  go  your  way  !  Whan  your  father,  Reson, 
Heerth  how  ye  obay  me  at  thys  season,  130 

I  thynke  he  wyll  thynke  hys  dowghter  now 
May  mary  another  man  for  you. 
When  wytes  stand  so  in  ther  owne  conceite, 
Best  let  them  go,  tyll  pryde  at  hys  heyghte 

Turne  and  cast  them  downe  hedlong  agayne,  135 

As  ye  shall  see  provyd  by  thys  Wyt  playne. 
Yf  Reson  hap  not  to  cum  the  rather, 
Hys  owne  dystruccion  he  wyll  sure  gather.; 
Whgrefore  to  Reson  wyll  I  now  get  me, 
Levyng  that  charge  whereabowt  he  set  mee.  140 

Exceat  Instruction.     Tedyousnes  cumth  in  with  a  vyser  over  hys  hed. 

[TEDY.]     Oh  the  body  of  me  ! 
What  kaytyves  be  those 


426  JHON    REDFORD. 

That  wyll  not  once  flee 

From  Tediousnes  nose, 
But  thus  dysese  me  145 

Out  of  my  nest, 
When  I  shoold  ese  mee 

Thys  body  to  rest ! 
That  Wyt,  that  vylayne, 

That  wrech,  —  a  shame  take  hym  !  —  150 

Yt  is  he  playne 

That  thus  bold  doth  make  hym, 
Wythowt  my  lycence 

To  stalke  by  my  doore 
To  that  drab,  Syence,  155 

To  wed  that  whore ! 
But  I  defye  her  ; l 

And  for  that  drabes  sake, 
Or  Wyt  cum  ny  her, 

The  knaves  hed  shall  ake ;  160 

Thes  bones,  this  mall, 

Shall  bete  hym  to  dust 
Or  Jthat  drab  shall 

Once  quench  that  knaves  lust ! 
But,  hah!  mee  thynkes  165 

I  am  not  halfe  lustye  ; 
Thes  jo[y]ntes,  thes  lynkes, 

Be  ruffe  and  halfe  rustye ; 
I  must  go  shake  them, 

Supple  to  make  them!  170 

Stand  back,  ye  wrechys ! 
Beware  the  fechys 
Of  Tediousnes, 
Thes  kaytyves  to  bles ! 

Make  roome,  I  say  !  175 

Rownd  evry  way, 
Thys  way,  that  way  ! 
What  cares  2  what  way  ? 

1  H.  here.  «  Qy.  What  care  I  or  Who  cares. 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  427 

Before  me,  behynd  me, 

Rownd  abowt  wynd  me !  1 80 

Now  I  begyn 

To  swete  in  my  skin  ; 

Now  am  I  nemble 

To  make  them  tremble. 

Pash  bed!  pash  brayne  !  185 

The  knaves  are  slayne, 

All  that  I  hyt ! 

Where  art  thow,  Wyt? 

Thow  art  but  deade ! 

Of  goth  thy  hed  190 

A'  the  fyrst  blow  ! 

Ho,  ho !  ho,  ho  ! 

Wyt  spekyth  at  the  doore. 

[WYT.]     Studye ! 

STUD.  Here,  syr ! 

WYT.  How,  doth  thy  hed  ake  ? 

STUD.     Ye,  God  wot,  syr,  much  payne  I  do  take  i 

WYT.     Dylygens ! 

DYL.  Here,  syr,  here  ! 

WYT.  How  dost  thow  ?          195 

Doth  thy  stomak  serve  the  to  fyght  now  ? 

DYL.     Ye,   syr,  wyth  yonder  wrech,  —  a  vengans  on 

hym! 
That  thretneth  you  thus.     Set  evyn  upon  hym  ! 

STUD.     Upon  hym,  Dylygence  ?  Better  nay  ! l 

DYL.     Better  nay,  Studye  ?  Why  shoold  we  fray  ?  2  200 

STUD.     For  I  am  wery;  my  hed  akth  sore. 

DYL.  Why,  folysh  Studye,  thow  shalt  doo  no  more 
But  ayde  my  master  wyth  thy  presens. 

WYT.     No  more  shalt  thow  nether,  Dylygence. 
Ayde  me  wyth  your  presence,  both  you  twayne,  205 

And  for  my  love  myselfe  shall  take  payne  ! 

1  Lines  199-201  erased  in  MS. 

2  Kittredge  suggests  that  fray  may  be  a  misreading  0/stay. 


428  JHON    REDFORD. 

STUD.     Syr,  we  be  redye  to  ayde  you  so. 

WYT.     I  axe  no  more,  Studye.     Cum  then,  goe ! 

Tedyiousnes  rysyth  up. 

[TEDY.]     Why,  art  thow  cum  ? 

WYT.  Ye,  wrech,  to  thy  payne ! 

TEDI.     Then  have  at  the ! 

WYT.  Have  at  the,  agayne'  210 

Here  Wyt  fallyth  downe  and  dyeth, 

TEDI.     Lye  thow  there  !  Now  have  at  ye,  kaytyves ! 
Do  ye  fle,  ifayth  ?  A  !  horeson  theves  ! 
By  Mahowndes  bones,  had  the  wreches  taryd, 
Ther  neckes  wythowt  hedes  they  showld  have  caryd  ! 
Ye,  by  Mahowndes  nose,  myght  I  have  patted  them,  215 

In  twenty  gobbetes  I  showld  have  squatted  them, 
To  teche  the  knaves  to  cum  neere  the  snowte 
Of  Tediousnes  !  Walke  furder  abowte 
I  trow  now  they  wyll.     And  as  for  thee, 

Thow  wylt  no-more  now  troble  mee.  220 

Yet,  lest  the  knave  be  not  safe  inowghe,  . 

The  horeson  shall  bere  me  another  kuffe.  [Strikes  him.} 

Now  ly  styll,  kaytyv,  and  take  thy  rest, 

Whyle  I  take  myne  in  myne  owne  nest.  224 

Exceat  Tedy\ousnes\. 

Here  cumth  in  Honest  Recreation,  Cumfort,  Quycknes,  and  Strenght, 
and  go  and  knele  abtrwt  Wyt ;  and  at  the  last  verce  reysyth  hym  up  upon 
hysfeete,  and  so  make  an  end. 

[While  they  kneel,  they  sing  this  song:]  * 

Gyve  place,  gyve  place  to  Honest  Recreacion; 

Gyve  place,  we  say,  now  for  thy  consolacion.  226 

When  travelles  grete  in  matters  thycke 
Have  duld  your  wyttes  and  made  them  sycke, 

1  The  song  inserted  here  occurs  in  MS.  among  the  songs  that  follow 
the  play.  It  clearly  belongs  here,  however,  as  it  has  the  superscription: 
"  The  fyrst  song  in  the  play  of  Science." 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  42Q 

What  medson  than  your  wyttes  to  quycke  ? 
Yf  ye  wyll  know,  the  best  phisycke 

Is  to  geve  place  to  Honest  Recreacion  ; 

Gyve  place,  we  say,  now  for  thy  consolacion!  232 

Where  is  that  Wyt  that  we  seeke  than? 
Alas,  he  lyeth  here  pale  and  wan ! 
Helpe  hym  at  once  now,  yf  we  can. 
O  Wyt,  how  doest  thow  ?     Looke  up,  man  ! 

O  Wyt,  geve  place  to  Honest  Recreacion ; 

Gyve  place,  we  say,  now  for  thy  consolacion  !  238 

After  place  gyvyn,  let  eare  obay  ; 

Gyve  an  eare,  O  Wyt,  now  we  the  pray  ; 

Gyve  eare  to  that  we  syng  and  say  ; 

Gyve  an  eare,  and  healp  wyll  cum  strayghteway  ; 

Gyve  an  eare  to  Honest  Recreacion ; 

Gyve  an  ere,  now,  for  thy  consolacion !  244 

After  eare  gyvyn,  now  gyve  an  eye  ! 
Behold  thy  freendes  abowte  the  lye  : 
Recreacion  I,  and  Comfort  I, 
Quicknes  am  1,  and  Strength  herebye. 

Gyve. an  eye  to  Honest  Recreacion  ; 

Gyve  an  eye,  now,  for  thy  consolacion !  250 

After  eye  gyvyn,  an  hand  gyve  ye  ! 
Gyve  an  hand,  O  Wyt,  feele  that  ye  see  ; 
Recreacion  feele,  feele  Comfort  fre, 
Feele  Quicknes  here,  feale  Strength  to  the ! 

Gyve  an  hand  to  Honest  Recreacion  ; 

Gyve  an  hand,  now,  for  thy  consolacion  !  256 

Upon  his  feete  woold  God  he  were ! 
To  rayse  hym  now  we  neede  not  fere. 
Stay  you  hys  handes,  whyle  we  hym l  bere  ; 
Now  all  at  once  upryght  him  rere  ! 

l  H.  here. 


43O  JHON    REDFORD. 

O  Wyt,  gyve  place  to  Honest  Recreation  ; 

Gyve  place,  we  say,  now  for  thy  consolacion  !  262 

A  nd  than  Honest  Recreacion  sayth  asfolcrwyth : 1 

HON.  REC.     Now,  Wyt,  how  do  ye  ?     Wyll  ye  be  lustye  ? 
WYT.     The  lustier  for  you  needes  be  must  I. 
HON.  REC.     Be  ye  all  hole  yet  after  your  fall  ? 
WYT.     As  ever  I  was,  thankes    to  you  all. 

Reson  cummth  in,  and  sayth  asfolowyth  : 

[RESON.]     Ye  myght  thanke  Reson  that  sent  them  to  ye  ; 
But  syns  the[y]  have  [do]  that  the[y]  shoold  do  ye, 
Send  them  home,  soonne,  and  get  ye  forwarde. 

WYT.     Oh  father  Reson,  I  have  had  an  hard  270 

Chance  synce  ye  saw  me  ! 

RESON.2  I  wot  well  that 

The  more  to  blame  ye,3  when  ye  wold  not 
Obay  Instruccion,  as  Reson  wyld  ye. 
What  marvell  thowgh  Tedyousness  had  kyld  ye  ? 
But  let  pas  now,  synce  ye  ar  well  agayne.  275 

Set  forward  agayne  Syence  to  attayne  ! 

WYT.     Good  father  Reson,  be  not  to  hastye ; 
In  honest  cumpany  no  tyme  wast  I. 
I  shall  to  youre  dowghter  all  at  leyser. 

RESON.     Ye,  Wyt,  is  that  the  grete  love  ye  rayse  her?         280 
I  say,  yf  ye  love  my  dowghter  Science, 
Get  ye  foorth  at  once,  and  get  ye  hence. 

A I  go  out  save  Honest.* 
Here  Comfort,  Quiknes  and  Strength  go  out. 

1  In  H.  this  and  the  stage  direction  preceding  the  song  form  a  single 
sentence.    For  the  sake  of  clearness,  1  have  broken  the  sentence  and  in- 
serted the  song  bet-ween  the  parts. 

2  MS.  Reson  cumth  in ;  corr.  by  H. 

8  H.  says  •  "  This  sentence  is  repeated  in  the  MS.  by  mistake,  but  part 
of  the  previous  line  seems  to  be  -wanting  "  ;  but  I  see  no  reason  for  tJie  latter 
statement. 

*  H.  adds  [RECREACION].  But  it  should  seem  that  the  scribe  began  to 
write:  Al  go  out  save  Honest  Recreacion,  Reason  and  Wyt,  but  halfw ay 
through  the  sentence  decided  upon  another  form  of  expressing  the  same 
fact,  and  then  neglected  to  erase  -what  he  had  -written. 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  431 

WYT.     Nay,  by  Saynt  George,  they  go  not  all  yet! 
RESON.     No  ?  wyll  ye  dysobey  Reson,  Wyt  ? 
WYT.     Father  Reson,  I  pray  ye  content  ye,  285 

For  we  parte  not  yet. 

RESON.  Well,  Wyt,  I  went  ye 

Had  bene  no  such  man  as  now  I  see. 

Fare-well !  Exceat. 

HON.  REC.     He  ys  angry. 
WYT.  Ye,  let  hym  be ! 

I  doo  not  passe  ! 

Cum  now,  a  basse  !  290 

HON.  REC.     Nay,  syr,  as  for  bassys, 
From  hence  none  passys 
But  as  in  gage 
Of  mary-age. 

WYT.     Mary,  evyn  so.  295 

A  bargayne,  lo ! 

HON.  REC.     What,  wythout  lycence 
Of  Ladye  Science  ?  298 

WYT.     Shall  I  tell  you  trothe  ? 

I  never  lovde  her. 
HON.  REC.     The  common  voyce  goth 

That  mariage  ye  movd  her.  302 

WYT.     Promyse  hath  she  none. 
Yf  we  shalbe  wone, 

Wythout  mo  wurdes  grawnt ! 
HON.  REC.     What,  upon  this  soodayne  ? 
Then  myghte  ye  playne 

Byd  me  avawnt !  308 

Nay,  let  me  see 
In  honeste 

What  ye  can  doo 
To  wyn  Recreacion  ; 
Upon  that  probacion 

I  grawnt  therto.  314 


432  JHON    REDFORD. 

WYT.     Small  be  my  dooinges, 
But  apt  to  all  thynges 

I  am,  I  trust. 

HON.  REC.     Can  ye  dawnce  than? 
WYT.     Evyn  as  I  can, 

Prove  me  ye  must.  320 

HON.  REC.     Then  for  a  whyle 
Ye  must  excyle 

This  garment  cumbryng.1 
WYT.     In-deede,  as  ye  say, 
This  cumbrus  aray 

Woold  make  Wyt  slumbryng.  326 

HON.  REC.     Yt  is  gay  geere 
Of  Science  cleere,  — 

Yt  seemth  her  aray. 
WYT.     Whose-ever  it  were, 
Yt  lythe  now  there  !  [Takes  off  his  gown.] 

HON.  REC.     Go  to,  my  men,  play  !  332 

Here  [the  minstrels  play  and  Honest  Recreacion  and  Wyt]  dawnce? 
and  in  the  ntene-whyle  Idellnes  cumth  in  andsytth  downe,  and  when  the 
galyard  is  doone,  Wyt  sayth  as/olowyth,  andsofalyth  downe  in  Idellnes 
lap. 

WYT.     Sweete  hart,  gramercys  ! 

HON.  REC.    Why,  whether  now  ?    Have  ye  doone,  synce  ? 
WYT.     Ye,  in  fayth,  with  wery  bones  ye  have  possest  me  ; 
Among  thes  damselles  now  wyll  I  rest  me. 
HON.  REC.     What,  there  ? 

WYT.  Ye,  here  ;  I  wylbe  so  bold. 

IDLE.     Ye,  and  wellcum,  by  hym  that  God  sold  ! 
HON.  REC.     Yt  ys  an  harlot,  may  ye  not  see  ? 
IDLE.     As  honest  a  woman  as  ye  be  !  340 

HON.  REC.     Her  name  is  Idlenes.     Wyt,  what  mene  you  ? 
IDLE.     Nay,  what  meane  you  to  scolde  thus,  you  quene, 
you? 

1  H.  cum  bryng;  but  cf.  1.  325. 

2  H.  Here  tliey  dawnce. 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  433 

WYT.     Ther,  go  to  !     Lo  !  now  for  the  best  game  ! 
Whille  I  take  my  ese,  youre  toonges  now  frame  ! 

HON.  REC.      Ye,  Wyt ;    by  youre   fayth,  is   that  youre 

facion  ?  345 

Wyll  ye  leave  me,  Honest  Recreacion, 
For  that  common  strumpet,  Idellnes, 
The  verye  roote  of  all  vyciousnes  ? 

WYT.     She  sayth  she  is  as  honest  as  ye. 
Declare  yourselves  both  now  as  ye  be!  350 

HON.  REC.     What  woolde  ye  more  for  my  declaracion 
Then  evyn  my  name,  Honest  Recreacion  ? 
And  what  wold  ye  more  her  to  expres 
Then  evyn  her  name,  to,  Idlenes  — 

Dystruccion  of  all  that  wyth  her  tarye  ?  355 

Wherfore  cum  away,  Wyt ;  she  wyll  mar  ye  ! 

I  DEL.     Wyll  I  mar  hym,  drabb,  thow  calat,  thow ! 
When  thow  hast  mard  hym  all-redye  now  ? 
Cawlyst  thow  thysealfe  Honest  Recreacion, 

Ordryng  a  poore  man  after  thys  facion,  360 

To  lame  hym  thus  and  make  his  lymmes  fayle 
Evyn  wyth  the  swyngyng  there  of  thy  tayle  ? 
The  dyvyll  set  fyre  one  the !  for  now  must  I, 
Idlenes,  hele  hym  agayne,  I  spye. 

I  must  now  lull  hym,  rock  hym,  and  frame  hym  365 

To  hys  lust  agayne,  where  thow  dydst  lame  hym. 
Am  I  the  roote,  sayst  thow,  of  vyciousnes  ? 
Nay  ;  thow  art  roote  of  all  vyce  dowteles ! 
Thow  art  occacion,  lo  !  of  more  evyll 

Then  I,  poore  gerle,  —  nay,  more  then  the  dyvyll !  370 

The  dyvyll  and  hys  dam  can  not  devyse 
More  devlyshnes  then  by  the  doth  ryse. 
Under  the  name  of  Honest  Recreacion, 
She,  lo  !  bryngth  in  her  abhominacion  ! 

Mark  her  dawnsyng,  her  maskyng,  and  mummyng —  375 

Where  more  concupyscence  then  ther  cummyng? 
Her  cardyng,  her  dycyng,  dayly  and  nyghtlye  — 
Where  fynd  ye  more  falcehod  then  there  ?     Not  lyghtly. 


434  JHON  REDFORD. 

Wyth  lyeng  and  sweryrig  by  no  poppetes, 

But  teryng  God  in  a  thowsand  gobbetes.  380 

As  for  her  syngyng,  pypyng  and  fydlyng, 

What  unthryftynes  therin  is  twydlyng  ! 

Serche  the  tavernes  and  ye  shall  here  cleere 

Such  bawdry  as  bestes  wold  spue  to  heere. 

And  yet  thys  is  kald  Honest  Recreacion,  385 

And  I,  poore  Idlenes,  abhomynacion  ! 

But  whych  is  wurst  of  us  twayne,  now  judg,  Wyt. 

WYT.     Byrladye,  not  thow,  wench,  I  judge  yet. 

HON.  REC.     No  ?     Ys  youre  judgment  such  then  that  ye 
Can  neyther  perseve l  that  best,  how  she  390 

Goth  abowte  to  dyceve  you,  nor  yet 
Remembre  how  I  savyd  youre  lyfe,  Wyt? 
Thynke  you  her  meete  wyth  mee  to  compare 
By  whome  so  manye  wytes  curyd  are  ? 

When  wyll  she  doo  such  an  act  as  I  dyd,  .-    r  395 

Savynge  your  lyfe  when  I  you  revyved  ? 
And  as  I  savyd  you,  so  save  I  all 
That  in  lyke  jeoperdy  chance  to  fall. 
When  Tediousnes  to  grownd  hath  smytten  them, 
Honest  Recreacion  up  doth  quyken  them  400 

Wyth  such  honest  pastymes,  sportes  or  games 
As  unto  myne  honest  nature  frames, 
And  not,  as  she  sayth,  with  pastymes  suche 
As  be  abusyd  lytell  or  muche,  — 

For  where  honest  pastymes  be  abusyd,  401; 

Honest  Recreacion  is  refused  ; 
Honest  Recreacion  is  present  never 
But  where  honest  pastymes  be  well  usyd  ever. 
But  in-deede  Idlenes,  she  is  cawse 

Of  all  such  abuses  ;  she,  lo !  drawes  410 

Her  sort  to  abuse  myne  honest  games, 
And  therby  full  falsly  my  name  defames. 
Under  the  name  of  Honest  Recreacion 
She  bryngth  in  all  her  abhomynacion, 

l  MS.  peseve ;  corr.  by  H. 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  435 

Dystroyng  all  wytes  that  her  imbrace,  415 

As  youre-selfe  shall  see  wythin  short  space. 

She  wyll  bryng  you  to  shamefull  end,  Wyt, 

Except  the  sooner  from  her  ye  flyt. 

Wherefore  cum  away,  Wyt,  out  of  her  pawse ! 

Hence,  drabb  !  let  hym  go  out  of  thy  clawse  !  420 

IDLE.     Wyll  ye  get  ye  hence?  or,  by  the  mace, 
Thes  clawes  shall  clawe  you  by  youre  drabbes  face ! 

Hox.  REC.     Ye  shall  not  neade  ;  syns  Wyt  lyethe  as  wone 
That  neyther  heerlh  nor  seeth,  I  am  gone.  Exceat. 

IDLE.     Ye,  so  ?  fare-well !     And  well  fare  thow,  toonge  !      425 
Of  a  short  pele  this  pele  was  well  roong,  — 
To  ryng  her  hence,  .and  hym  fast  asleepe 
As  full  of  sloth  as  the  knave  can  kreepe ! 
How,  Wyt!  awake!     How  doth  my  babye? 

Neque  vox  neque  sensus,  byr  Ladye  !  430 

A  meete  man  for  Idlenes,  no  dowte. 
Hark  my  pygg,  how  the  knave  dooth  rowte  ! 
Well,  whyle  he  sleepth  in  Idlenes  lappe, 
Idlenes  marke  on  hym  shall  I  clappe. 

Sum  say  that  Idlenes  can  not  warke  ;  435 

But  those  that  so  say,  now  let  them  marke ! 
I  trowe  they  shall  see  that  Idlenes 
Can  set  hersealfe  abowt  sum  busynes  ; 
Or,  at  the  lest,  ye  shall  see  her  tryde, 
N  other  idle  nor  well  ocupyde.  440 

[She  marks  Wyt.} 


Lo  !  syr,  yet  ye  lak  another  toye  ! 
Wher  is  my  whystell  to  call  my  boye  ? 


Here  she  wkystleth,  and  Ingnorance  cumth  in. 

[!NGN.]     I  cum  !     I  cum  ! 

IDLE.  Coomme  on,  ye  foole  ! 

All  thys  day  or  ye  can  cum  to  scoole  ? 

I  NGN.     Um  !  mother  wyll  not  let  me  cum.  445 

IDLE.     I  woold  thy  mother  had  kyst  thy  bum ! 


436  JHON    REDFORD. 

She  wyll  never  let  the  thryve,  I  trow. 

Cum  on,  goose  !     Now,  lo  !  men  shall  know 

That  Idlenes  can  do  sumwhat,  ye, 

And  play  the  scoolemystres,  to,  yf  neade  bee.  450 

Mark  what  doctryne  by  Idlenes  cummes  ! 

Say  thy  lesson,1  foole. 

INGN.  Upon  my  thummes  ? 

IDEL.     Ye,  upon  thy  thummes  ;  ys  not  there  thy  name  ? 

INGN.     Yeas. 

IDLE.  Go  to,  than  ;  spell  me  that  same.  454 

Where  was  thou  borne  ? 

INGN.  Chwas  i-bore  in  Ingland,  mother  sed. 

IDLE.     In  Ingland? 

INGN.  Yea. 

IDLE.  And  whats2  half  Ingland? 

Heeres  ing  ;  and  heeres  land.     Whats  tys  ? 

INGN.     Whats  tys  ? 

IDEL.  Whats  tys?  horeson,  whats  tys? 

Heeres  ing  ;  and  heeres  land.     Whats  tys?  459 

INGN.     Tys  my  thum. 

IDEL.  Thy  thum  ?    Yng,  horeson,  ing,  ing ! 

INGN.     Yng,  yng,  yng,  yng. 

IDEL.     Foorth  !     Shall  I  bete  thy  narse,  now? 

INGN.     Um-m-m  — 

IDEL.  Shall  I  not  bete  thy  narse,  now  ? 

INGN.     Um-um-um — 

IDEL.  Say  "  no,"  foole,  say  "  no." 

INGN.     Noo,  noo,  noo,  noo,  noo  !  465 

IDEL.     Go  to,  put  together  :  yng ! 

INGN.  Yng. 

IDEL.  No ! 

INGN.  Noo. 

IDEL.     Forth  now!     What  sayth  the  dog? 

1  It  -will  aid  the  reader  to  follow  this  exemplification  of  the  syllabic 
method  if  he  bears  in  mind  from  the  start  that  the  name  of  Ignorance 
is  pronounced  Ing-no-ran-s-y. 

2  H.  prints  what 's  here  only. 


WYT   AND    SCIENCE.  437 

I  NGN.  Dog  barke. 

IDLE.     Dog  barke  ?     Dog  ran,  horeson,  dog  ran  ! 

I  NGN.     Dog  ran,  horson,  dog  ran,  dog  ran. 

IDEL.     Put  together  :  ing  ! 

I  NGN.  Yng. 

IDEL.  No ! 

I  NGN.  Noo. 

IDEL.  Ran ! 

INGN.  Ran.        470 

IDLE.     Foorth  now  ;  what  seyth  the  goose  r 

INGN.  Lag  !  lag  ! 

IDLE.     Hys,  horson,  hys  ! 

ING[N].  Hys,  hys-s-s-s-s. 

IDLE.     Go  to,  put  together  :  yng. 

INGN.  Ing. 

IDLE.     No. 

INGN.  Noo. 

IDLE.  Ran. 

INGN.  Ran. 

IDLE.  Hys. 

ING[N].  Hys-s-s-s-s-s-s. 

IDLE.     No[w],  who  is  a  good  boy? 

INGN.  I,  I,  I,  I,  I,  I.  475 

IDLE.  Go  to,  put  together  :  ing. 

INGN.  Ing. 

IDLE.  No. 

INGN.      Noo. 

IDEL.  Ran. 

INGN.  Ran. 

IDEL.  His. 

INGN.  Hys-s-s-s-s-s. 

IDEL.  I. 

INGN.    I. 

IDEL.        Ing-no-ran-his-I. 

INGN.  Ing-no-ran-hys-s-s-s. 

IDLE.  I. 

INGN.    I. 


438  JHON    REDFORD. 

I  DEL.  Ing. 

I  NGN.  Ing. 

I  DEL.  Foorth ! 

I  NGN.  Hys-s-s-s.  480 

IDEL.     Ye,  no,  horeson,  no. 
INGN.  Noo,  noo,  noo,  noo. 

IDLE.     Ing-no. 
INGN.  Ing-noo. 

IDLE.  Forth  now! 

INGN.  Hys-s-s-s-s. 

IDEL.     Yet  agayne  ;  ran,  horeson,  ran,  ran. 
INGN.     Ran,  horson,  ran,  ran. 
IDLE.  Ran,  say ! 

INGN.  Ran-say. 

IDLE.     Ran,  horson! 
INGN.  Ran,  horson. 

IDLE.  Ran. 

INGN.  .        Ran.  485 

IDLE.     Ing-no-ran. 
INGN.  Ing-no-ran. 

IDEL.     Foorth,  now  !     What  sayd  the  goose  ? 
INGN.  Dog  barke. 

IDLE.     Dog  barke?    Hys,  horson,  hys-s-s-s-s-s, 
INGN.     Hys-s-s-s-s-s-s. 

1  IDLE.     I  ;  Ing-no-ran-hys-I.  490 

INGN.     Ing-no-ran-hys-I-s-s-s. 
IDLE.  I. 

INGN.  I. 

IDLE.     How  sayst,  now,  foole?     Is  not  there  thy  name? 
INGN.     Yea. 

IDLE.  Well  than  ;  can  me  that  same  ! 

What  hast  thow  lernd  ? 

i  H.  has:  IDLE     I. 

INGN.     Ing-no-ran-hys-I. 

Ing-no-ran-hys-I-s-s-s. 

and  says  that  the  -whole  speech  assigned  to  INGN.  "  should  possibly  be  givtn 
to  IDLE.,  but  the  MS.  is  apparently  carelessly  -written  in  this  place." 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  439 

INGN.  Ich  can  not  tell. 

IDLE.     "  Ich  can  not  tell  "  ?  thou  sayst  evyn  very  well,         495 
For,  yf  thow  cowldst  tell,  then  had  not  I  well 
Towght  the  thy  lesson  which  must  be  tawghte,  — 
To  tell  all  when  thow  canst  tell  ryghte  noght. 

INGN.     Ich  can  my  lesson. 

IDLE.  Ye  ;  and  therfore 

Shalt  have  a  new  cote,  by  God  I  swore  !  500 

INGN.     A  new  cote? 

IDLE.  Ye,  a  new  cote  by-and-by. 

Of  wyth  thys  old  cote  ;  "  a  new  cote  "  crye ! 

INGN.     A  new  cote,  a  new  cote,  a  new  cote  ! 

IDLE.  J  Pease,  horson  foole  ! 

Wylt  thow  wake  hym  now  ?     Unbuttun  thy  cote,  foole  ! 
Canst  thow  do  nothyng  ? 

INGN.  I  note  how  choold  be.1  505 

IDLE.     "  I  note  how  choold  be  "  ?     A  foole  betyde  the ! 
So  wysly  hyt  spekyth  ;  cum  on  now  ;  whan  ? 
Put  bak  thyne  arme,  foole ! 

[  Takes  off  Ingnorance's  coat.] 

INGN.  Put  backe  ? 

IDLE.     So,  lo  !  now  let  me  see  how  thys  geere 
Wyll  trym  this  jentle-man  that  lyeth  heere, —  510 

Ah  !  God  save  hyt,  so  sweetly  hyt  doth  sleepe  !  — 
Whyle  on  your  back  thys  gay  cote  can  creepe, 
As  feete  as  can  be  for  this  one  arme. 

[Puts  Wyfs  gown  on  1 'ngnorance .] 

INGN.     Oh  !  cham  a-cold. 

IDLE.  Hold,  foole  !  keepe  the  warme, 

And  cum  hyther  ;  hold  this  hed  here  ;  softe  now,  for  wakyng !  515 
Ye  shall  see  wone"  here  browght  in  such  takynge 
That  he  shall  soone  scantlye  knowe  hymsealfe. 
Heere  is  a  cote  as  fyt  for  this  elfe 
As  it  had  bene  made  evyn  for  thys  bodye. 

[  Puts  Ingnorance's  coat  on  Wyt."] 
1-1  As  three  lines  in  H.,  ending,  now,  nothyng,  be. 


44°  JHON    REDFORD. 

So!     It  begynth  to  looke  lyke  a  noddye  !  520 

INGN.     Um-m-m-m  — 

IDLE.  What  aylest  now,  foole  ? 

INGN.  New  cote  is  gone! 

IDLE.     And  why  is  it  gone  ? 

INGN.  'Twool  not  byde  on. 

IDLE.     "  'Twool  not  byde  on  "  ?     'Twoold  if  it  cowlde ! 
But  raarvell  it  were  that  byde  it  shoold,  — 

Sciens  garment  on  Ingnorance  bak !  —  525 

But  now  lets  se,  syr  ;  what  do  ye  lak  ? 
Nothyng  but  evin  to  bukell  heere  this  throte, 
So  well  this  Wyt  becumthe  a  fooles  cote ! 

INGN.     He  is  I  now ! 

IDLE.  Ye  ;  how  lykste  hym  now  ? 

Is  he  not  a  foole  as  well  as  thow  ?  530 

INGN.     Yeas. 

IDLE.  Well,  than,  won  foole  keepe  another ! 

Geve  me  this,  and  take  thow  that  brother. 

INGN.     Um-m  — 

IDLE.  Pyke  the  home,  go  ! 

INGN.     Chyll  go  tell  my  moother !  [Exit.] 

IDLE.  Yea,  doo! 

But  yet  to  take  my  leve  of  my  deere,  lo !  535 

Wyth  a  skyp  or  twayne,  heere  lo !  and  heer  lo  ! 
And  heere  agayne !  and  now  this  heele 
To  bles  his  weake  brayne !     Now  are  ye  weele, 
By  vertu  of  Idellnes  blessyng  toole, 
Cunjurd  from  Wyt  unto  a  starke  foole  !  540 

[Exit  Idlenes.] 
Confydence  cumth  in  with  a  swoord  by  his  syde ;  and  sayth  as  folcnuyth : 

[CoNF.]     I  seake  and  seake,  as  won  on  no  grownde 

Can  rest,  but  lyke  a  masteries  hownde 

Wandryng  all  abowt  seakyng  his  master. 

Alas  !  jentle  Wyt,  I  feare  the  fasster 

That *  my  tru  servyce  clevth  unto  thee,  545 

1  H.  Thy  ;  perhaps  it  -would  be  better  to  read  Thys. 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  441 

The  slacker  thy  mynd  cleevth  unto  mee ! 

I  have  doone  thye  message  in  such  sorte 

That  I  not  onlye,  for  thy  comfort, 

To  vanquishe  thyne  enmy  have  browght  heere 

A  swoord  of  comfort  from  thy  love  deere,  550 

But  also,  furder,  I  have  so  enclynd  her 

That  upon  my  wurdes  she  hath  assynd  her 

In  her  owne  parson  half-way  to  meete  thee, 

And  hytherward  she  came  for  to  greete  thee. 

And  sure,  except  she  be  turned  agayne,  555 

Hyther  wyll  she  cum  or  be  long,  playne, 

To  seake  to  meate  the  heere  in  this  cost. 

But  now,  alas  !  thy-selfe  thow  hast  lost, 

Or,  at  the  least,  thow  wylt  not  be  fownd. 

Alas  !  jentle  Wyt,  how  doost  thow  woonde  560 

Thy  trusty  and  tru  servant,  Confydence, 

To  lease  my  credence  to  Ladye  Science  ! 

Thow  lesyst  me,  to  ;  for  yf  I  can  not 

Fynd  the  shortly,  lenger  lyve  I  ma  not, 

But  shortly  get  me  evyn  into  a  corner  565 

And  dye  for  sorowe  throwhe  such  a  scorner  !  Exceat. 

Here  the[y]  cum  in  with  vyols. 

FAME.     Cum  syrs,  let  us  not  dysdayne  to  do 
That  the  World  hath  apoynted  us  too. 

FAVOR.     Syns  to  serve  Science  the  World  hath  sent  us, 
As  the  World  wylth  us,  let  us  content  us.  570 

RYCHES.     Content  us  we  may,  synce  we  be  assynde 
To  the  fayrest  lady  that  lyvth,  in  my  mynde  ! 

WOORSHYP.     Then  let  us  not  stay  here  muet  and  mum, 
But  tast  we  thes  instrumentes  tyll  she  cum.  574 

Here  the\_y\  syng  "  Excedynge  Mesure"  * 

Exceedyng  mesure,  wyth  paynes  continewall, 

Langueshyng  in  absens,  alas  !  what  shall  I  doe, 
Infortunate  wretch,  devoyde  of  joyes  all, 

1  In  MS.  this  song  immediately  follows  "  The  fyrst  song  in  the  play  of 
Science,"  and  is  headed  "  The  ij  song." 


442  JHON    REDFORD. 

Syghes  upon  syghes  redoublyng  my  woe, 
And  teares  downe  f allyng  fro  myne  eyes  toe  ? 

Bewty  wyth  truth  so  doth  me  constrayne 

Ever  to  serve  where  I  may  not  attayne  !  581 

Truth  byndyth  me  ever  to  be  true, 

How-so-that  fortune  faverth  my  chance. 
Duryng  my  lyfe  none  other  but  you 

Of  my  tru  hart  shall  have  the  governance ! 

O  good  swete  hart,  have  you  remembrance 
Now  of  your  owne,  whych  for  no  smart 
Exyle  shall  yow  fro  my  tru  hart !  588 

[While  they  sing,  Experyence  and  Science  enter.] 

EXPER.     Dowghter,  what  meanyth  that  ye  dyd  not  syng? 

SCIENCE.     Oh  mother,  for  heere  remaynth  a  thynge ! 
Freendes,  we  thanke  you  for  thes  your  plesures, 
Takyn  on  us  as  chance  to  us  measures. 

WOORSHYPPE.     Ladye,  thes  our  plesures,  and  parsons  too, 
Ar  sente  to  you,  you  servyce  to  doo. 

FAME.     Ladye  Science,  to  set  foorth  your  name  595 

The  World,  to  wayte  on  you,  hath  sent  me,  —  Fame. 

FAVOR.     Ladye  Science,  for  your  vertues  most  plentye 
The  World,  to  cherysh  you,  Favor  hath  sent  ye. 

RYCHES.     Lady  Science,  for  youre  benefytes  knowne 
The  World,  to  mayntayne  you,  Ryches  hath  thrown.  600 

WOORSHYP.     And  as  the  World  hath  sent  you  thes  three, 
So  he  sendth  mee,  —  Woorshypp,  —  to  avawnce  your  degre. 

SCIENCE.   I  thank  the  World ;  but  cheefly  God  be  praysed, 
That  in  the  World  such  love  to  Science  hath  raysed ! 
But  yet,  to  tell  you  playne,  ye  iiij  ar  suche  605 

As  Science  lookth  for  lytell  nor  muche  ; 
For  beyng,  as  I  am,  a  lone  wooman, 
Neede  of  your  servyce  I  nether  have  nor  can. 
But,  thankyng  the  World  and  you  for  your  payn, 
I  send  ye  to  the  World  evyn  now  agayne.  610 

WOORSHYPPE.     Why,   ladye,   set   ye   no   more   store   by 
mee, — 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  443 

Woorshypp  ?  Ye  set  nowght  by  yourself e,  I  se  ! 

FAME.     She  setthe  nowght  by  Fame  ;  wherby  I  spye  her, 
She  carethe  not  what  the  World  sayth  by  her. 

FAVOR.    She  setthe  nowght  by  Favor  ;  wherby  I  trye  her,     61 5 
She  caryth  not  what  the  World  sayth  or  dooth  by  her. 

RYCHES.     She  setth    nowght   by   Ryches ;   whych  dooth 

showe 
She  careth  not  for  the  World.     Cum,  let  us  goe ! 

[  The  four  go  out.] 

SCIENCE.     In-deede,  smalle  cawse  gevyn'  to  care  for  the 

Worldes  favering, 
Seeyng  the  wyttes  of  [the]  Worlde  be  so  waveryng.  620 

EXPER.     What  is  the  matter,  dowghter,  that  ye 
Be  so  sad  ?     Open  your  mynd  to  mee. 

SCIENCE.     My  marvell  is  no  les,  my  good  moother, 
Then  my  greefe  is  greate,  to  see —  of  all  other  — 
The  prowde  scorne  of  Wyt,  soone  to  Dame  Nature,  625 

Who  sent  me  a  pycture  of  hys  stature, 
Wyth  all  the  shape  of  hymselfe  there  openyng,  — 
Hys  amorous  love  therby  betokenyng, 
Borne  toward  me  in  abundant  facion  ; 

And  also,  furder,  to  make  ryght  relacion  630 

Of  this  hys  love  he  put  in  commyshion 
Such  a  messenger  as  no  suspicion 
Cowld  growe  in  mee  of  hym,  —  Confydence. 

EXPER.     Um! 

SYENCE.  Who,  I  ensure  ye,  wyth  such  vehemence 

And  faythfull  behavoure  in  hys  movynge  635 

Set  foorth  the  pyth  of  hys  masters  lovynge 
That  no  lyvyng  creature  cowld  conjecte 
But  that  pure  love  dyd  that  Wyt  dyrect. 

EXPER.     So  ? 

SCIENCE.          Now,  this  beinge  synce  the  space 
Of  three  tymes  sendyng  from  place  to  place  640 

Betwene  Wyt  and  hys  man,  I  here  no  more 
Nether  of  Wyt,  nor  his  love  so  sore. 


444  JHON    REDFORD. 

How  thynk  you  by  thys,  my  nowne  deere  mother  ? 

EXPER.     Dowghter,  in  this  I  can  thynke  none  oother 
But  that  it  is  true  — thys  proverbe  old  :  645 

Hastye  love  is  soone  hot  and  soone  cold ! 
Take  hede,  dowghter,  how  you  put  youre  trust 
To  lyght  lovers,  to  hot  at  the  furst ! 
For  had  this  love  of  Wyt  bene  growndyd 

And  on  a  sure  fowndashyon  fowndyd,  650 

Lytell  voyde  tyme  wold  have  bene  betwene  ye 
But  that  this  Wyt  wolde  have  sent  or  seene  ye. 

SCIENCE.     I  thynke  so. 

EXPER.  Ye ;  thynke  ye  so  or  no, 

Youre  mother,  Experience,  proofe  shall  showe 
That  Wyt  hath  set  hys  love  —  I  dare  say  655 

And  make  ye  warrantyse  —  another  way. 

Wyt  cuntth  before. 

[WYT.]     But  your  warrantyse  warrant  no  trothe  ! 
Fayre  ladye,  I  praye  you  be  not  wrothe 
Tyll  you  here  more ;  for,  deere  Ladye  Science, 
Had  your  lover,  Wyt,  —  ye,  or  Confydence,  660 

Hys  man,  —  bene  in  helth  all  this  tyme  spent, 
Long  or  this  tyme  Wyt  had  cumme  or  sent; 
But  the  trothe  is  they  have  bene  both  sykke, 
Wyt  and  hys  man,  ye  and  wyth  paynes  thycke 
Bothe  stayde  by  the  way,  so  that  your  lover  665 

Could  neyther  cum l  nor  send  by  none  other. 
Wherefore,  blame  not  hym,  but  chance  of  syknes. 

SCIENCE.     Who  is  this  ? 

EXPER.  Ingnorance,  or  his  lykenes. 

SCIENCE.     What,  the  common  foole  ? 

EXPER.  Yt  is  much  lyke  hym. 

SCIENCE.     By  my  soothe,  his  toong  servth  him  now  trym  !  670 
What  sayst  thow,  Ingnorance  ?  Speak  agayn  ! 

WYT.     Nay,  ladye,  I  am  not  Ingnorance,  playne, 
But  I  am  your  owne  deere  lover,  Wytt, 

l  MS.  cumne  ;  corr.  by  H. 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  445 

That  hath  long  lovd  you,  and  lovth  you  yet ; 

Wherefore,  I  pray  the  now,  my  nowne  swetyng,  675 

Let  me  have  a  kys  at  this  our  meetyng. 

SCIENCE.     Ye,  so  ye  shall  anone,  but  not  yet 
Ah,  syr,  this  foole  here  hath  got  sum  wyt ! 
Fall  you  to  kyssyng,  syr,  now-a-dayes  ? 
Your  mother  shall  charme  you  ;  go  your  wayes  !  680 

WYT.     What  nedth  all  this,  my  love  of  long  growne  ? 
Wyll  ye  be  so  strang  to  me,  your  owne  ? 
Youre  aquayntance  to  me  was  thowht  esye  ; 
But  now  your  woordes  make  my  harte  all  quesye, 
Youre  dartes  at  me  so  strangely  be  shott.  685 

SCIENCE.     Heere  ye  what  termes  this  foole  here  hath  got? 

WYT.     Well,  I  perseve  my  foolyshnes  now  ; 
Indeede,  ladyes  no  dasterdes  alowe  ; 
I  wylbe  bolde  wyth  my  nowne  darlyng  ! 
Cum  now,  a  bas,  my  nowne  proper  sparlyng  !  690 

SCIENCE.     What  wylt  thow,  arrand  foole  ? 

WYT.  Nay,  by  the  mas, 

I  wyll  have  a  bas  or  I  hence  pas  ! 

SCIENCE.     What  wylt  thow,  arrande  foole  ?    Hence,  foole, 
I  say  ! 

WYT.     What !  nothyng  but  foole  and  foole  all  this  day? 
By  the  mas,  madam,  ye  can  no  good.  695 

SCIENCE.     Art  a-sweryng,  to  ?     Now,  by  my  hood, 
Youre  foolyshe  knaves  breeche  vj  strypes  shall  bere  ! 

WYT.     Ye,  Codes  bones!  foole  and  knave  to?  be  ye  there? 
By  the  mas,  call  me  foole  once  agayne, 
And  thow  shalt  sure  call  a  bio  or  twayne.1  700 

EXPER.     Cum  away,  dowghter,  the  foole  is  mad. 

WYT.     Nay,  nor  yet  nether  hence  ye  shall  gad ! 
We  wyll  gre  better,  or  ye  pas  hence. 
I  praye  the  now.  good  swete  Ladye  Science, 

All  this  strange  maner  now  hyde  and  cover,  705 

And  play  the  goodfelowe  wyth  thy  lover ! 

1  H.  says  that  the  scribe  here  began  to  -write  the  preceding  speech  of 
Science,  but  erased  it. 


44^  JHON  REDFORD. 

SCIENCE.     What  goodfelowshyppe  wold  ye  of  me, 
Whome  ye  knowe  not,  nether  yet  I  knowe  ye  ? 

WYT.     Know  ye  not  me  ? 

SCIENCE.  No  ;  how  shoold  I  know  ye  ? 

WYT.     Booth  not  my  pycture  my  parson  shoo w  ye  ?  710 

SCIENCE.     Your  pycture  ? 

WYT.  Ye,  my  picture,  ladye, 

That  ye  spake  of.     Who  sent  it  but  I  ? 

SCIENCE.     Yf  that  be  youre  pycture,  then  shall  we 
Soone  se  how  you  and  your  pycture  agree. 
Lo,  here !  the  pycture  that  I  named  is  this.  715 

WYT.     Ye,  mary,  myne  owne  lykenes  this  is. 
You  havyng  this,  ladye,  and  so  lothe 
To  knowe  me,  whych  this  so  playne  showthe  ? 

SCIENCE.     Why,  you  are  nothyng  lyke,  in  myne  eie. 

WYT.     No?     How  say  ye?  [.TO Experience.] 

EXPER.  As  she  sayth,  so  say  I.  720 

WYT.     By  the  mas,  than  are  ye  both  starke  blynde ! 
What  dyference  betwene  this  and  this  can  ye  fynd? 

EXPER.     Marye,  this  is  fayer,  plesant  and  goodlye, 
And  ye  are  fowle,  dysplesant  and  uglye. 

WYT.     Mary,  avawnt,  thow  fowle  ugly  whoore  !  725 

SCIENCE.     So!  lo!  now  I  perseve  ye  more  and  more. 

WYT.     What !  perseve  you  me  as  ye  wold  make  me, 
A  naturall  foole  ? 

SCIENCE.  Nay,  ye  mystake  me  ; 

I  take  ye  for  no  foole  naturall, 
But  I  take  ye  thus,  —  shall  I  tell  all  ?  730 

WYT.     Ye,  marye,  tell  me  youre  mynd,  I  pray  ye, 
Wherto  I  shall  trust.     No  more  delay  ye. 

SCIENCE.     I  take  ye  for  no  naturall  foole, 
Browght  up  among  the  innocentes  scoole, 

But  for  a.  nawgty  vycious  foole,  735 

Browght  up  wyth  Idellnes  in  her  scoole. 
Of  all  arrogant  fooles  thow  art  one  ! 

WYT.     Ye,  Goges  bodye ! 

EXPER.  Cum,  let  us  be  gone ! 

[  The  two  go  out.} 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  447 

Wvr.     My  swerd  !  is  yt  gone  ?     A  vengeance  on  them  ! 
Be  they  gone,  to,  and  ther  hedes  upon  them?  740 

But,  prowde  quenes,  the  dyvyll  go  wyth  you  both ! 
Not  one  poynt  of  curtesye  in  them  go  the. 
A  man  is  well  at  ease  by  sute  to  payne  him 
For  such  a  drab,  that  so  doth  dysdayne  hym ! 
So  mokte,  so  lowted,  so  made  a  sot,  745 

Never  was  I  erst,  synce  I  was  begot ! 
Am  I  so  fowle  as  those  drabes  wold  make  me  ? 
Where  is  my  glas  that  Reson  dyd  take  me  ? 
Now  shall  this  glas  of  Reson  soone  trye  me 

As  fayre  as  those  drabes  that  so  doth  belye  me.  .  750 

Hah  !     Goges  sowle!  what  have  we  here?  a  dyvyll? 
This  glas,  I  se  well,  hath  bene  kept  evyll. 
Goges  sowle  !  a  foole,  a  foole,  by  the  mas ! 
What  a  very  vengeance  aylth  this  glas? 

Other  this  glas  is  shamefully  spotted,  755 

Or  els  am  I  to  shamefully  blotted ! 
Nay,  by  Goges  armes,  I  am  so,  no  dowte ! 
How  loke  ther  facis  heere  rownd  abowte  ? 
All  fayre  and  cleere  they,  evrychone  ; 

And  I,  by  the  mas,  a  foole  alone,  760 

Deckt,  by  Goges  bones,  lyke  a  very  asse ! 
Ingnorance  cote,  hoode,  eares,  —  ye,  by  the  masse, 
Kokescome  and  all ;  I  lack  but  a  bable  ! 
And  as  for  this  face,  [it]  is  abhominable, 

As  black  as  the  devyll!     God,  for  his  passion  !  765 

Where  have  I  bene  rayde  affter  this  fassyon  ? 
This  same  is  Idlenes,  —  a  shame  take  her  ! 
This  same  is  her  wurke,  — the  devill  in  hell  rake  her ! 
The  whoore  hath  shamd  me  for-ever,  I  trow  !  — 
I  trow?     Nay  verely,  I  knowe  !  770 

Now  it  is  so,  the  stark  foole  I  playe 
Before  all  people  ;  now  see  it  I  maye. 
Evrye  man  I  se  lawhe  me  to  scorne ; 
Alas,  alas,  that  ever  I  was  borne ! 


448  JHON    REDFORD. 

Yt  was  not  for  nowght,  now  well  I  se,  775 

That  those  too  ladyes  dysdayned  me. 

Alas  !  Ladye  Science,  of  all  oother  — 

How  have  I  rayled  on  her  and  her  moother ! 

Alas !  that  lady  I  have  now  lost 

Whome  all  the  world  lovth  and  honoryth  most !  780 

Alas !  from  Reson  had  I  not  varyd, 

Ladye  Science  or  this  I  had  maryd ; 

And  those  fower  gyftes  which  the  World  gave  her 

I  had  woon,  to,  had  I  kept  her  favor ; 

Where  now,  in-stede  of  that  lady  bryght  785 

Wyth  all  those  gallantes  seene  in  my  syght,  — 

Favor,  Ryches,  ye,  Worshyp  and  Fame,  — 

I  have  woone  Hatred,  Beggry  and  Open  Shame. 

Shame  cumth  in  wyth  a  whyppe.     \_Reasonfollows  hint.'] 

WYT.     Out  upon  the,  Shame  !  what  doost  thowe  heere  ? 

RESON.     Mary,  I,  Reason,  bad  hym  heere  appeere.  790 

Upon  hym,  Shame,  wyth  stryppes  inow  smitten, 
While  I  reherce  his  fawtes  herein  wrytten : 
Fyrst,  he  hath  broken  his  promyse  formerly 
Made  to  me,  Reson,  my  dowghter  to  marye ; 
Nexte,  he  hath  broken  his  promyse  promisyd  795 

To  obay  Instruccion,  and  him  dyspised  ; 
Thurdlye,  my  dowghter  Science  to  reprove, 
Upon  Idlenes  he  hath  set  his  love  ; 
Forthlye,  he  hath  folowed  Idellnes  scoole 

Tyll  she  hath  made  him  a  verye  stark  foole  ;  800 

Lastlye,  offendyng  both  God  and  man, 
Sweryng  grete  othes  as  any  man  can, 
He  hath  abused  himselfe,  to  the  grete  shame1 
Of  all  his  kynred  and  los  of  his  good  name. 

Wherfore,  spare  him  not,  Shame  ;  bete  him  well  there !  805 

He  hath  deservyd  more  then  he  can  beare. 

l  H.  greteshame. 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  449 

Wyt  knelith  dtnune. 

[WYT.]     Oh  father  Reson,  be  good  unto  me ! 
Alas,  thes  strypes  of  Shame  will1  undo  me  ! 

RESON.     Be  still  a  while,  Shame  !    Wyt,  what  sayst  thow? 

WYT.     Oh  syr,  forgeve  me,  I  beseech  you!  810 

RESON.     Yf  I  forgeve  the  thy  ponyshment, 
Wylt  thow  than  folow  thy  fyrst  entent 
And  promyse  made,  my  dowghter  to  marye  ? 

WYT.     Oh  syr,  I  am  not  woorthy  to  carye 
The  dust  out  where  your  dowghter  shoold  syt.  815 

RESON.     I  wot  well  that ;  but  yf  I  admyt 
The,  unwoorthy,  agayne  to  her  wooer, 
Wylt  thow  then  folow  thy  sewte  unto  her  ? 

WYT.     Ye,  syr,  I  promyse  you,  while  lyfe  enduryth. 

RESON.     Cum  neere,  masters  ;  heere  is  wone  ensuryth         820 

.  Here  cumth  Instruction,  Studye  and  Diligens  in. 

In  woordes  to  becum  an  honest  man ! 
Take  him,  Instruccion  ;  do  what  ye  can. 

INSTR.     What,  to  the  purpose  he  went  before  ? 

RESON.     Ye,  to  my  dowghter  prove  him  once  more. 
Take  him,  and  trym  hym  in  new  aparell,  825 

And  geve  that  to  Shame  there  to  his  farewell. 

INSTR.     Cum  on  your  way,  Wyt ;  be  of  good  cheere  ; 
After  stormy  clowdes  cumth  wether  clere ! 

Instrucion,  Study,  Wyt  and  Dyligens  go  out. 

RESON.     Who  lyst  to  marke  now  this  chance  heere  doon, 
May  se  what  Wyt  is  wythout  Reson.  830 

What  was  this  Wyt  better  then  an  asse 
Being  from  Reson  strayde,  as  he  was  ? 
But  let  pas  now,  synce  he  is  well  poonyshyd, 
And  thereby,  I  trust,  meetely  well  monyshyd. 
Ye,  and  I  lyke  him  never  the  wurs,  I,  835 

Thowgh  Shame  hath  handled  hym  shamefullye  ; 
For,  lyke  as,  yf  Wyt  had  prowdly  bent  hym 

1  Written  over  wold  in  MS, 


45O  JHON    REDFORD. 

To  resyst  Shame,  to  make  Shame  absent  hym, 

I  wold  have  thowght  than  that  Wyt  had  bene  — 

As  the  sayeng  is,  and  daylye  scene  —  840 

Past  Shame  once,  and  past  all  amendment : 

So,  contra[r]ye,  syns  he  dyd  relent 

To  Shame,  when  Shame  ponysht  him  evyn  yll, 

I  have,  I  say,  good  hope  in  him  styll. 

I  thynke,  as  I  thowght,  —  yf  joyne  thei  can, —  845 

My  dowghter  wel  bestowd  on  this  man. 

But  all  the  dowte  now  is  to  thynke  how 

My  dowghter  takth  this  ;  for  I  may  tell  yow, 

I  thynk  she  knew  this  Wyt  evyn  as  weele 

As  she  seemd  heere  to  know  him  no  deele,  850 

For  lak  of  knoledge  in  Science  there  is  none  ; 

Wherfore,  she  knew  him,  and  therupon 

His  mysbehavor  perchance  evyn  strykyng 

Her  hart  agaynst  him,  she  —  now  myslykyng, 

As  women  oft-tymes  wylbe  hard-hartyd—  855 

Wilbe  the  stranger  to  be  revertyd. 

This  must  I  helpe ;  Reson  must  now  walke, 

On  Wytes  part  wyth  my  Science  to  talke. 

A  neere  way  to  her  know  I,  wherebye 

My  soonnes  cummyng  prevent  now  must  I.  860 

Perchance  I  may  bryng  my  dowghter  hyther ; 

Yf  so,  I  dowght  not  to  joyne  them  together. 

Exceat  Reson.     Confydence  cumth  in. 

[CONF.]     I  thanke  God,  yet  at  last  I  have  fownd  hym  ; 
I  was  afrayde  sum  myschance  had  drownd  him, 
My  master,  Wyt,  wyth  whome  I  have  spoken,  865 

Ye,  and  deliverd  token  for  token, 
And  have  anoother  to  Science  agayne,  — 
A  hart  of  gold,  syngnifyeng  playne 
That  Science  hath  wun  Wytes  hart  for-ever, 
Whereby,  I  trust,  by  my  good  endever  870 

To  that  good  ladye,  so  sweete  and  so  sortly, 
A  maryage  betwene  them  ye  shall  see  shortlye. 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  451 


Confydens  exceat.    Instruction  cumth  in  wyth  \Vyt,  Study  and  Dylygence. 

[INSTR.]     Lo  !  syr,  now  ye  be  entryd  agayne 
Toward  that  passage  where  dooth  remayne 

Tedyousnes,  your  mortall  enmy  ;  875 

Now  may  ye  choose  whether  ye  wyll  trye 
Your  handes  agayne  on  that  tyrant  stowte, 
Or  els  walkyng  a  lytell  abowte. 

WYT.     Nay  ;  for  Codes  pashion,  syr,  let  me  meete  him ! 
Ye  se  I  am  able  now  for  to  greete  him.  880 

This  sword  of  cumfort,  sent  fro  my  love, 
Upon  her  enmy  needes  must  I  proove ! 

INSTR.     Then  foorth  there  ;  and  turne  on  your  ryght  hand 
Up  that  mownt  before  ye  shall  see  stand. 

But  heere  ye  !     Yf  your  enmye  chance  to  ryse,  885 

Folowe  my  cowncell  in  anye  wyse  ; 
Let  Studye  and  Dyligence  flee  ther  towche, — 
The  stroke  of  Tediousnes,  —  and  then  cowche 
Themselves,  as  I  told  ye,  —  ye  wot  how. 

WYT.     Ye,  syr,  for  that  how,  marke  the  proofe  now  !  890 

INSTR.     To  mark  it,  indeede,  here  wyll  I  abyde, 
To  see  what  chance  of  them  wyll  betyde ; 
For  heere  cumth  the  pyth,  lo !  of  this  iornaye, 
That  mowntayne  before  which  they  must  assaye 
Is  cald  in  Laten  Mons  Pernassus,  895 

Which  mowntayne,  as  old  auctors  dyscus, 
Who  attaynth  ones  to  sleepe  on  that  mownt, 
Ladye  Science  his  owne  he  may  cownt. 
But,  or  he  cum  there,  ye  shall  see  fowght 

A  fyght  with  no  les  polycye  wrowght  900 

Then  strenghth,  I  trow,  if  that  may  be  praysed. 

TEDI.     Oh  !  ho  !  ho ! 

INSTR.  Hark ! 

TEDI.  [enterittf]  Out,  ye  kaytyves  ! 

INSTR.  The  feend  is  raysyd! 

TEDI.     Out,  ye  vilaynes  !  be  ye  cum  agayne  ? 
Have  at  ye,  wretches  ! 


452  JHON    REDFORD. 

WYT.  Fie,  syrs,  ye  twayne  ! 

TEDI.     Thei  fle  not  far  hens  !  905 

.  DYLI.     Turne  agayne,  Studye  ! 

STUDYE.  Now,  Dylygence! 

INSTR.     Well  sayde !     Hold  fast  now ! 

STUDYE.  He  fleeth ! 

DYLI.  Then  folowe ! 

INSTR.     Wyth  his  owne  weapon  now  wurke  him  sorow! 
Wyt  lyth  at  reseyte  ! 

TEDI.  (dyeth}  Oh !  ho  !  ho  ! 

INSTR.  Hark!  he  dyeth  ! 

Where  strength  lakth,  policye  ssupplieth.  910 

Heere  Wyt  cu-mth  in  and  bryngth  in  the  tied  upon  his  swoorde,  and  sayth 
•  asfolowyth : 

WYT.     I  can  ye  thanke,  syrs  ;  this  was  well  doone ! 
STUDYE.     Nay,  yours  is  the  deede ! 

DYLI.  To  you  is  the  thank ! l 

INSTR.     I  can  ye  thank,  all ;  this  was  well  doone ! 
WYT.     How  say  ye,  man  ?     Is  this  feelde  well  woonne? 

Confydence  cumth  running  in. 

[CONF.]     Ye,  by  my  fayth,  so  sayth  your  deere  hart.  915 

WYT.     Why  where  is  she,  that  here  now  thow  art? 

CONF.     Upon  yonder  mowntayne,  on  hye, 
She  saw  ye  strike  that  hed  from  the  bodye ; 
Wherby  ye  have  woonne  her,  bodye  and  all ; 
In  token  whereof  reseve  heere  ye  shall  920 

A  gowne  of  knoledge,  wherin  you  must 
Reseve  her  here  strayght. 

WYT.  But  sayst  thow  just  ? 

[CoNF.]  2     So  just  I  say  that,  except  ye  hye  ye, 
Or  ye  be  redye,  she  wylbe  by  ye. 

WYT.     Holde  !     Present  unto  her  this  hed  heere,  925 

And  gyve  me  warning  when  she  cumth  nere. 

[Exit  Confydence.'] 
I  Qy.  insert  alone  after  thank.  2  SufflU.i  by  H. 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE. 


453 


Instruccion,  wyll  ye  helpe  to  devyse 

To  trim  this  geere  now  in  the  best  wyse  ? 

INSTR.     Geve  me  that  gowne,  and  cum  wyth  me,  all ! 

DYLI.     Oh,  how  this  gere  to  the  purpose  dooth  fall !  930 

Confidens  cuinth  running  in. 

[CoNF.]     How,  master,  master  !     Where  be  ye  now  ? 
WYT.     Here,  Confydence  ;  what  tydynges  bryngst  thow  ? 
CONF.     My  ladye  at  hand  heere  dooth  abyde  ye  ; 
Byd  her  wellcum  !     What,  do  ye  hide  ye  ?  934 

Here  IVyt,  Instruccion,  Studye,  and  Diligence  syng  "  H^eHcum,  my 
nowne"  and  Syence,  Experience,  Reson  and  Confidence  cum  in  at 
L[eff\,  and  answer  evre  second  verse:  J 


Wellcum,  myne  owne ! 
Wellcum,  myne  owne ! 


936 


WYT  and  his  Cumpanye. 


SCIENCE  and  hir  Cumpanye. 


0  ladye  deere, 
Be  ye  so  neere 

To  be  knowne  ? 
My  hart  yow  cheere 
Your  voyce  to  here  , 

Wellcum,  myne  owne !  942 

As  ye  rejoyse 
To  here  my  voyce 

Fro  me  thus  blowne, 
So  in  my  choyce 

1  show  my  voyce 

To  be  your  owne.  948 

Then  drawe  we  neere 
To  see  and  heere 

My  love  long  growne ! 
Where  is  my  deere  ? 
Here  I  apeere 

To  see  myne  owne.  954 

i  Here  as  before  I  have  removed  tJie  song  from  the  latter  part  of  the  vol- 
ume and  inserted  it  in  the  middle  of  the  stage  direction.  The  song  is 
headed:  "  The  thyrd  Song." 


WYT  and  his  Cumpanye. 


454  JHON    REDFORD. 

SCIENCE  and  hir  Cumpanye.     To  se  and  try 

Your  love  truly 

Till  deth  be  flowne, 
Lo!  here  am  I, 
That  ye  may  spie 

I  am  your  owne.  960 

WYT  and  his  Cumpanye.  Then  let  us  meete, 

My  love  so  sweete, 

Halfe-way  heere  throwne  ! 
SIENS  and  hir  Cumpanye.        I  wyll  not  sleete 

My  love  to  greete. 

Wellcum,  myne  owne  !  966 

WYT  and  his  Cumpanye.  Wellcum,  myne  owne ! 

ALL  sing :  Wellcum,  myne  owne !  968 

A  nd  when  the  song  is  doone,  Reson  sendyth  Instruction,  Studye,  and  Dy It- 
fence,  and  Confidens  out;  and  then,  standyng  in  the  myddell  of  the  place, 
Wyt  sayth  asfolowyth : 

WYT.     Wellcum,  myne  owne,  wyth  all  my  hole  harte, 
Whych  shalbe  your  owne  till  deth  us  depart ! 
I  trust,  ladye,  this  knot  evyn  syns  knyt. 

SCIENCE.     I  trust  the  same  ;  for  syns  ye  have  smitt 
Downe  my  grete  enmye,  Tedyousnes, 
Ye  have  woon  me  for-ever,  dowghtles,  — 
Althowgh  ye  have  woon  a  clogg  wyth-all !  975 

WYT.     A  clogg,  sweete  hart  ?  what  ? 

SCIENCE.  Such  as  doth  fall 

To  all  men  that  joyne  themselves  in  mariage,  — 
In  kepyng  ther  wyves ;  a  carefull  cariage  ! 

WYT.     Careful?     Nay,  ladye,  that  care  shall  imploye 
No  clogg,  but  a  key  of  my  most  joye.  980 

To  kepe  you,  swete  hart,  as  shall  be  fyt, 
Shalbe  no  care,  but  most  joy  to  Wyt ! 

SCIENCE.     Well,  yet  I  say,  —  marke  well  what  I  saye  !  — 
My  presence  brynghth  you  a  clogg,  no  naye, 

Not  in  the  kepynge  of  me  onelye,  985 

But  in  the  use  of  Science  cheeflye ; 


WYT    AND    SCIENCE.  455 

For  I,  Science,  am,  in  this  degree, 

As  all,  or  most  part,  of  woomen  bee : 

Yf  ye  use  me  well,  in  a  good  sorte, 

Then  shall  I  be  youre  joy  and  comfort ;  990 

But  yf  ye  use  me  not  well,  then  dowt  me, 

For,  sure,  ye  were  better  then  wythout  me ! 

WYT.     Why,  ladye,  thinke  you  me  such  a  wyt, 
As  being  avansyd  by  you,  and  yet 

Wold  mysuse  ye  ?     Nay,  yf  ye  dowt  that,  995 

Heere  is  wone  lovth  thee  more  then  sumwhat,  — 
Yf  Wyt  mysuse  ye  at  any  season, 
Correct  me  then  your  owne  father,  Reson. 

RESON.     Ho,  dowghter,  can  ye  desyre  any  more  ? 
What  neede  thes  dowtes?     Avoyde  them  therfore  !  1000 

EXPER.     Byrlakyn,  syr,  but,  under  your  favor, 
This  dowgt  our  dowghter  doth  well  to  gather 
For  a  good  warnyng  now  at  begynnynge 
What  Wyt  in  the  end  shall  looke  for  in  wynning, 
Whych  shalbe  this,  syr:  yf  Science  here,  1005 

Whych  is  Codes  gyft,  be  usyd  meere 
Unto  Codes  honor,  and  profyt  both 
Of  you  and  your  neybowre,  whych  goth 
In  her,  of  kynd,  to  do  good  to  all, — 

This  scene  to,  Experience,  I,  shall  1010 

Set  you  forth,  Wyt,  by  her  to  imploye 
Doble  encrece  to  your  doble  joye ; 
But  yf  you  use  her  contrarywyse 
To  her  good  nature,  and  so  devyse 

To  evyll  effectes  to  wrest  and  to  wry  her,  1015 

Ye,  and  cast  her  of  and  set  nowght  by  her, 
Be  sure  I,  Experience,  shall  than 
Declare  you  so  before  God  and  man 
That  thys  talent  from  you  shalbe  taken 
And  you  ponysht  for  your  gayne  forsaken.  1020 

WYT.    "  Once  warne[d],  half-armd,"  folk  say,  namely  whan 
Experience  shall  warne  a  man,  than 
Tyme  to  take  heede.     Mother  Experience, 


JHON  REDFORD. 

Towchyng  youre  dowghter,  my  deere  hart,  Siens, 

As  I  am  sertayne  that  to  abuse  her  1025 

I  brede  myne  owne  sorow,  and  well  to  use  her 

I  encrece  my  joy,  and  so  to  make  yt 

Codes  grace  is  redye  yf  I  wyll  take  yt : 

Then,  but  ye  cownt  me  no  wyt  at  all, 

Let  never  thes  dowtes  into  your  hed  fall ;  1030 

But,  as  yourself,  Experience,  cleryng 

All  dowtes  at  lenght,  so,  tyll  tyme  aperyng, 

Trust  ye  wyth  me  in  God  ;  and,  swete  hart, 

Whyle  your  father,  Reson,  takth  wyth  parte, 

To  reseve  Codes  grace  as  God  shall  send  it,  1035 

Dowte  ye  not  our  joy,  tyll  lyves 1  end  yt! 

SCIENCE.     Well,  than,  for  the  end  of  all  dowtes  past 
And  to  that  end  whiche  ye  spake  of  last, 
Among  our  weddyng  matters  heere  rendryng, 
Thend  of  our  lyves  wold  be  in  remembryng ;  1040 

Which  remembrance,  Wyt,  shall  sure  defend  ye 
From  the  mysuse  of  Science  and  send  ye  3 
The  gayne  my  mother  to  mynd  did  call, 
Joy  wythout  end,  — that  wysh  I  to  all !  1044 

RESON.     Well  sayd  !  and  as  ye,  dowghter,  wyshe  it, 
That  joy  to  all  folke  in  generall, 

So  wysh  I,  Reson,  the  same ;  but  yet 
Fyrst  in  this  lyfe  wysh  I  here  to  fall 
To  our  most  noble  Kyng  and  Quene  in  especiall, 

To  ther  honorable  Cowncell,  and  then  to  all  the  rest, 

Such  joy  as  long  may  rejoyse  them  all  best!  1051 

All  say  Amen. 

Heere  cumth  in  f more  wyth  violes  and  syng,  "  Remembre  me,"s  and  at 
the  last  quere  all  make  cur[t]sye,  and  so  goe  forth  syngyng. 

Thus  endyth  the  Play  of  Wyt  and  Science,  made  by  Master 
fhon  Redford. 

1  Qy.  insert  end  (noun).      %  H.  you.      8  This  song  is  not  given  in  MS. 


A   PREATY    INTERLUDE 
CALLED,    NICE    WANTON. 


Wherein  ye  may  see 

Three  braunc[h]es  of  an  yll  tree : 
The  mother  and  her  chyldren  three, 

Twoo  naught,  and  one  godlye. 

Early  sharpe  that  wyll  be  thorne ; 

Soone  yll  that  wyll  be  naught ; 
To  be  naught,  better  vnborne ; 

Better  vnfed  than  naughtely  taught. 

Ut  magnum  magnos,  pueros  puerilia  l  decent. 


Personages. 

THE  MESSENGER. 

BARNABAS.  INIQUITIE. 

ISMAEL.  BAILY  ERRAND.S 

DALILA.  XANTIPE. 

EULALIA.  WORLDLY  SHAME. 

DANIEL,  THE  IUDGE. 

Anno  Domini, 
M.D.LX. 

1  K.  puerilia. 

2  K.  deocus ;  emend,  by  Kittredge ;  Haz.  prints  doctus,  with  no  note. 
8  This  and  INIQUITE  on  the  same  line  in  K. 


Printed  from  the  copy  in  the  British  Museum.  Whether  Hazlitt,  in  his  edition 
of  Dodsley's  "  Old  Plays,"  printed  from  this  copy  or  from  that  belonging  to  the 
Duke  of  Devonshire,  I  do  not  know.  If  he  printed  from  the  latter,  the  varia- 
tions between  his  reading  of  the  original  and  that  of  my  copyist  may  perhaps 
be  accounted  for ;  but  if  so,  both  copies  have  been  trimmed  too  close.  In  some 
instances  I  have  omitted  to  point  out  that  Hazlitt  has  silently  corrected  spell- 
ings and  restored  dropped  letters  ;  but  I  believe  I  have  neglected  nothing  impor- 
tant in  his  text  or  his  notes.  His  edition  is  indicated  by  Haz. ;  the  old  edition 
by  K.  In  K.  the  names  of  the  speakers  are  always  spelled  in  full ;  the  abbre- 
viations are  mine. 

This  play  was  licensed  to  the  printer,  John  Kyng,  in  1560;  but  the  last  stanza 
shows  that  it  was  written  before  the  death  of  Edward  VI. 


[NICE   WANTON.] 


THE  PROLOGUE. 

THE  MESSENGER.     The  prudent  prince,  Salomon,  doth  say, 
"  He  that  spareth  the  rod,  the  chyld  doth  hate  "  ; 

He  wold  youth  shuld  be  kept  in  awe  alwaye 

By  correction  in  tyme  at  reasonable  rate,  4 

To  be  taught  to  fear  God  and  theyr  parents  obey, 

To  get  learning  and  qualities,  thereby  to  maintain 

An  honest  quiet  lyfe,  correspondent  alway 

To  Gods  law  and  the  kynges  ;  for  it  is  certayne  8 

If  chyldren  be  noseled  in  idlenes  and  yll 

And  brought  vp  therin,  it  is  hard  to  restrayne 

And  draw  them  from  naturall  wont  euyll, 

As  here  in  thys  interlude  ye  shall  se  playne  12 

By  two  chyldren  brought  vp  wantonly  in  play, 

Whom  the  mother  doth  excuse  whew  she  should  chastise  : 

They  delyte  in  daliaunce  and  mischief  alway ; 

At  last  they  ende  theyr  lyues  in  miserable  wyse.  16 

The  mother,  perswaded  by  Worldly  Shame 

That  she  was  the  cause  of  theyr  wretched  lyfe, 

So  pensife,  so  sorowfull  for  theyr  death  she  became, 

That  in  despaire  she  would  slea  her-self  with  a  knife.  20 

Then  her  sonne,  Barnabas,  —  by  interpretacyon, 

The  sonne  of  comfort,  —  her  yll l  purpose  do2  stay, 

1  K.  all ;  Haz.  ill. 

2  Haz.  do[th]  ;  perhaps  a  mistake  for  to. 


460  NICE    WANTON. 

By  the  Scriptures  he  geueth  her  godly  consolation  ; 

And  so  concludeth.     All  these  partes  wyll  we  l  playe.  24 

[«*#.] 

Barnabas  commeth. 

BARN.     My  mayster  in  my  lesson  yester-day 

Dyd  recite  this  text  of  Ecclesiasticus : 
"  Man  is  prone  to  euil  irom  hys  youth,"  did  he  say ; 

Which  sentence  may  wel  be  verified  in  vs,  —  28 

My-selfe,  my  brother,  and  sister  Dalila, 

Whom  our  parentes  to  theyr  cost  to  scoole  do  fynde. 
I  tary  for  them  here  ;  time  passeth  away, 

I  loose  my  learnyng  ;  they  ever  loyter  behynde.  32 

If  I  go  before,  they  do  me  threate 

To  complayne  to  my  mother ;  she  for  theyr  sake, 
Being  her  tender  tidlynges,  wyll  me  beate. 

Lorde,  in  thys  perplexitye,  what  way  shall  I  take  ?  36 

What  wyl  become  of  them  ?     Grace  God  them  sende 
To  apply  their  learnyng  and  theyr  maners  amend ! 

Ismael  &"  Dalila  come  in  syngyng : 

Here  we  comen  !  and  here  we  louen! 8 

And  here  we  will  abide,  abyde  ay!  8  40 

BARN.     Fye,  brother,  fye  !  and  specyally  you,  sister  Dalila! 
Sobrenes  becommeth  maydes  alway. 

DAL.     What,  ye  dolt!     Ye  be  euer  in  one  songe! 

ISM.     Yea,  sir,  it  shall  cost  you  blowes  ere  it  be  longe! 

BARN.     Be  ye  not  ashamed  the  treauandes  to  play,  45 

Losing  your  time  and  learning,  ««<fthat  euery  day? 
Lernyng  bringeth  knowledge  of  God  and  honest  liuing  to  get. 

DAL.     Yea,  mary,  I  warrant  you,  Master  Hodypeke! 

BARN.     Learne  a-pace,  syster,  and  after  to  spyn  and  sowe, 
And  other  honest  huswifely  poyntes  to  knowe.  50 

1  K.  me ;  Haz.  we.  2  Haz.  lonen.  8  Haz.  abide-a. 


NICE    WANTON.  461 

ISM.     Spyn,  quod  ha  ?     Yea,  by  the  masse,  and  with  youre 

heles  vp-wynd, 
For  a  good  mouse-hunt  is  cat  after  kynd.1 

BARN.     "  Lewd  spekyng  corrupteth  good  maners,"  S.  Paule 

doeth  sai. 

Come,  let  vs  go,  if  ye  wil  to  scole  thys  day. 
I  shal  be  shent  for  taryng  so  longe.  55 

Barnabas  goeth  oute. 

ISM.     Go,  get  the  hence,  thy  mouth  full  of  horse-donge! 
Now,  prety  syster,  what  sport  shall  we  deuyse? 
Thus  paltyng  to  scole,  I  thynke  vs  vnwyse ; 
In  sommer  dye  for  thryst,  in  wynter  for  colde, 
And  styl  to  Hue  in  feare  of  a  churle,  —  who  would  ? 

DAL.     Not  I,  by  the  masse !     I  had  rather  he  hanged  were 
Then  I  would  syt  quakyng  like  a  mome  for  feare.  62 

I  am  sonne-burned  in  sommer,  in  winter  the  colde 
Maketh  my  limmes  grosse  and  my  beauty  decay. 

If  I  should  vse  it  as  they  would  I  should, 

I  should  neuer  be  fayre  woman,  I  dare  say.  66 

ISM.     No,  syster,  no!  but  I  can  tell 

Where  we  shal  haue  good  chiere, 
Lusty  companyons  two  or  three, 

At  good  wyne,  ale  and  biere.  70 

DAL.     Oh  good  brother,  let  vs  go  ; 
I  wyl  neuer  go  more  to  2  scoole. 
Shall  I  neuer  knowe 
What  pastyme  meaneth? 
Yes,  I  wyll  not  be  suche  a  foole. 

ISM.     Haue  with  the,  Dalila!  76 

1  Haz.  prints  after   Saint  Kind,  and  says   "  Old  copy,  Kynge " ;  my 
copyist  gives  the  reading  of  the  old  edition  as,  after  kyng. 

2  K.  re  feats  to ;  Haz.  prints  to-te. 


462  NICE    WANTON. 

[They  sing:} 

Fare-well  our  scoole! 
Away  with  boke  and  all! 

\T\hey  caste  \aw\aye  their  \bo~\kes.*- 

I  wyll  set  my  heart 

On  a  mery  pynne, 

What-euer  shall  be-fall!  81 

\They  go  out  singing.     Enter  Eulalial\ 

EUL.     Lorde,  what  folly  is  in  youth! 

Howe  vnhappy-be  chyldren  now-a-dayes! 

And,  the  more  pitye,  to  say  the  truth, 

Theyr  parentes  mainteyn  them  in  euyll  wayes, 
Which  is  a  great  cause  that  the  world  decayes, 

For  chyldren  brought  vp  in  ydlenes  and  play 

Unthrifty  and  desobedient  continue  alway.  88 

A  neyghbour  of  myne  hath  chyldren  here-by, 

Ydle,  desobedyent,  proude,  wanton  and  nyce. 

As  they  come  by,  they  do  shrewed  turnes  daily ; 

Their  parentes  so  to  suffer  them,  surely  be  not  wise. 
They  laugh  me  to  scorne  whe«  I  tel  thew  mine  aduise ; 

I  wil  speake  to  their  elders  and  warne  thew  neighborly. 

Neuer  in  better  tyme!  —  their  mother  is  here-by.  95 

[Enter  Xantippe.] 

[EUL.]     God  saue  you,  gossyp !     I  am  very  f ayne 

That  you  chaunce  now  to  come  thys  way; 
I  longe  to  talke  with  you  a  word  or  twayne, 

I  pray  you  take  it  frendly  that  I  shall  say. 

Ismael,  your  sonne,  and  your  daughter,  Dalila, 
Do  me  shrewde  turnes,  dayly  more  and  more, 
Chide  and  beat  my  chylren,  —  it  greueth  me  sore.  102 

They  sweare,  curse  and  scold,  as  they  go  by  the.  way, 
Giuyng  other  yll  ensample  to  do  the  same, 

1  The  letters  in  brackets  were  cut  off  by  the  binder. 


NICE    WANTON.  463 

To  Gods  displeasure,  and  theyr  hurt  an-other  day. 

Chastyce  them  for  it,  or  els  ye  be  to  blame  !  1 06 

XANT.     Tusshe  !  tusshe  !  If  ye  haue  no  more  than  that  to 

saye, 

Ye  maye  holde  your  tonge  and  get  ye  awaye. 
Alas  !  poore  soules,  they  sit  a'  scoole  all  day 

In  feare  of  a  churle  ;  and yf  a  lytle  they  play,  no 

He  beateth  them  lyke  a  deuyl.     When  they  come  home, 
Your  mestresship  would  haue  me  lay  on. 
If  I  should  beate  them  so  oft  as  men  complayne, 
By  the  masse  !  wzt^-in  this  month  I  shuld  make  them  lame.     114 

EUL.     Be  not  offended,  I  pray  you ;  I  must  say  more  : 

Your  sonne  is  suspect  lyght-fyngered  to  be ; 
Your  daughter  hath  nyce  trickes  three  or  foure  ; 

See  to  it  in  tyme,  leaste  worse  ye  do  see. 

He  that  spareth  the  rod,  hateth  the  chyld  truely; 
Ye,t  Salomon  sobre  correction  doth  meane, 
Not  to  beate  and  bounce  them  to  make  them  lame.  121 

XANT.     God  thanke  you,  mestres,  I  am  well  at  ease  ! 
[Aside]    Such  a  foole  to  teache  me,  preachyng  as  she  please  ! 
Dame,  ye  belye  them  deadly ;  I  know  playne, 
Because  they  go  handsomly,  ye  disdayne. 

EUL.     Then  on  the  other  as  well  would  I  complayne ; 
But  your  other  sonne  is  good,  and  no  thank  to  you ! 
These  wyl  ye  make  naught,  by  swete  lesu  !  128 

XANT.     Eulalia,1  my  chyldren  naught  ?  Ye  lye  ! 
By  your  malyce  they  shal  not  set  a  flye.2 
I  haue  but  one  mome,  in  comparison  of  hys  brother,  — 
Him  the  foole  prayseth,  and  despiseth  the  other. 

EUL.     Well,  Xantippe,  better  in  time  then  to  late ! 
Seing  ye  take  it  so,  here  my  leaue  I  take.  Exit.    134 

l  K.  Eupliade ;  Haz.  gives  Gupliade  as  reading  of  K.  and  prints  Gup 
liar.  a  K.  ffye. 


464  NICE   WANTON. 

XANT.      Mary,  good  leaue  haue  ye,  the  gret  God  be 


you 


My  chyldren  or  I  be  curst,  I  thinke  ; 
They  be  complayned  on  where-euer  they  go, 

That  for  theyr  pleasure  they  might  drynke  ; 
Nay,  by  thys  the  poor  soules  be  come  irom  scole  1  wery, 
I  will  go  get  them  meate  to  make  them  mery.2  {Exit.}     140 

Iniquitie  ,  Ismael,  and  Dalila  come  in  together,  [singing  :  ] 


Lo  !  lo  !  here  I  bryng  her.3 
ISM.     What  is  she,  nowe  ye  haue  her? 
DAL.      Ij4  lusty  mynyon  louer?fi 
INIQ.     For  no  golde  wyll  I  gyue  her. 
All  together.     Welcome  my  hony  ay.  145 

Here  he  speaketh  : 

INIQ.     Oh  my  heart! 

Thys  wenche  can  synge 
And  play  her  parte. 

DAL.     I  am  yours  (and  you  mine),6  with  all  my  heart.       149 

INIQ.     By  the  masse,  it  is  well  songe! 
Were  ye  not  sory  ye  were  a  mayd  so  longe? 

DAL.     Fye,  Maister  Iniquitie  !  fye  !  I  am  a  mayd  yet. 

ISM.     No,  sister,  no  ;  your  maidenhead  is  sicke. 

INIQ.     That  knaue,  your  brother,  wyl  be  a  blabbe  styl. 
I-wisse,  Dalila,  ye  can  say  as  muche  by  him,  if  ye  wil  !  155 

DAL.      By   him,    quod   ha  ?  •  He   hath    whores    two    or 

three. 

But  iche  tell  your  minion  Doll,  by  Gogs  body,  — 
It  skylleth  not,  she  doth  holde  you  as  muche. 

ISM.     Ye  lye  falsly,  she  wyll  play  me  no  suche  touche. 

DAL.     Not  she!  Yes,  to  do  your  heart  good!  160 

I  could  tell  you  who  putteth  a  bone  in  your  hood. 

1  K.  foules  be  come  fro  ferle.  4  Haz.  A. 

2  K.  mercy.  5  Haz.  reads  loner. 

*  K.  brynger;  Haz.  bring  a.  6  This  is  perhaps  spoken  aside. 


NICE    WANTON.  465 

ISM.     Peace,  whore  !  or  ye  beare  me  a  boxe  l  on  theare.  2 
DAL.     Here  is  mine  eare,  knaue,  stryke  and  thou  dare  ! 

[He  strikes  her.'] 

[DAL.  (to  /»/?•)]     To  suffer  him  thus  ye  be  no  man! 
If  ye  wyl  not  reuenge  me,  I  wyl  fynd  one!  165 

To  set  so  litle  by  me  ye  were  not  wont. 
Well,  it  is  no  matter!     Though  ye  do,  ceteri  nolunt? 

INIQ.     Peace,  Dalila!     Speake  ye  Laten,  poore  foole? 

DAL.     No,  no,  but  a  prouerbe  I  learned  at  scoole. 

ISM.     Yea,  syster,  you  went  to  scole  til  ye  were  past  grace.   170 

DAL.     Yea,  so  dydst  thou,  by  thy  knaues  face ! 

INIQ.     Well,  no  more  a-do  ;  let  all  thys  go. 
We  kinsfolke  must  be  frendes ;  it  must  be  so. 
Come  on !  come  on  !  come  on ! 
Here  they  be  that  wyll  do  vs  al  good.  175 

He  casteth  dice  on  the  bord. 

ISM.     If  ye   vse  it   long,  your   hear  wil   grow  throught4 
your  [hood].5 

INIQ.     Come  on,  knaue,  with  Christes  curse ! 
I  must  haue  some  of  the  mony 
Thou  hast  pickt  out  of  thy  fathers  purse. 

DAL.     He,  by  the  masse,  if  he  can  get  his  purse  180 

Now  and  then,  he  maketh  it  by  halfe  the  worse. 

ISM.     I  defie  you  both,  whore  and  knaue ! 

INIQ.     What,  ye  pryncockes,  begin  ye  to  raue? 
Come  on ! 

DAL.       Mayster  Iniquitie,  by  your  leaue, 
I  wyll  play  a  crowne  or  two  here  by  your  sleue.  185 

ISM.     Then  be  ye  seruaunt  to  a  worshypful  mon ; 
Mayster  Iniquitie,  —  a  right  name,  by  Saint  John  ! 

1  In  K.  the  x  of  this  -word  is  broken  and  looks  like  r ;  Haz.  of  course 
prints  box. 

2  K.  has  an  theare  (=  on  the  ear)  ;  Haz.  reads  on  there. 
8  As  two  lines  in  K.  and  Haz. 

*  Haz.  through. 

6  Supplied  by  Haz.wfio,  however,  does  not  mention  that  it  is  missingin  K. 


466  NICE    WANTON. 

DAL.     What  can  ye  say  by  Mayster  Iniquztie? 
I  loue  hym  and  his  name  most  hertely. 

INIQ.     God  a  mercy,  Dalila,  good  lucke,  I  warrant  the  !        190 

i[f/]e  kisseth  W\er. 

I  wil  shryue  you  both  by-and-by. 

ISM.     Come  on,  but  fyrst  let  vs  haue  a  songe. 

DAL.     I  am  content,  so  that  it  be  not  longe.  193 

Iniquitie  and  Dalila.  singe : 

INIQ.     Golde  lockes, 
She  must  haue  knockes, 

Or  els  I  do  her  wronge. 
DAL.     When  ye  haue  your  wyl, 
Ye  were  best  lye  styll, 

The  winter  nightes  be  longe.  199 

INIQ.     When  I  ne  may 
An-other  assay, 

I  wyl  take  it  for  no  wronge. 
DAL.     Then,  by  the  roode, 
A  bone  in  your  hoode 

I  shall  put  ere  it  be  longe.  205 

ISM.  She  macheth  you,  sira  ! 

INIQ.  By  Gogs  bloud,  she  is  the  best  whore  in  England ! 

DAL.  It  is  knauishly  praysed,  gyue  me  your  hand. 

INIQ.  I  woud  thou  haddes  suche  an-other.2 

ISM.  By  the  masse,  rather  then  xl  pound,  brother.  210 

INIQ.  Here,  sirs,  come  on  ;  seuen! 

They  set  him. 

A-leauen  at  all ! 

ISM.     Do  ye  nycke  vs  ?  be-knaue  your  noly  !  8 
INIQ.     Ten  myne ! 
ISM.  Syxe  *  myne  ! 

Casteth  d[icf}.1 

1  Cut  away  in  K. 

2  K.  in  other. 

8  Noll  (  =  noddle)  -would  give  a  sort  of  rhyme  to  all. 
4  In  K.  the  x  is  broken. 


NICE    WANTON.  467 

Haue  at  it,  and  it'were  for  all  my  fathers  kyne! 

It  is  lost,  by  His  woundes  !  and  ten  to  one!  215 

INIQ.     Take  the  dice,  Dalila;  cast  on! 

DAL.     Come  on  ;  fyve  ! 

She  casteth,  and  they  set.1 

Thryue  at  fayrest! 

ISM.     Gup,  whore  !  and  I  at  rest.  Heloseth. 

Bi  Gogs  bloud,  I  wene  God  and  the  deuyl  be  agenst  me! 

INIQ.     If  thone  forsake  the,  thother  wyll  take  the.  220 

ISM.     Then  is  he  a  good  felow  ;  I  would  not  passe, 
So  that  I  myght  beare  a  rule  in  hell,  by  the  masse, 
To  tosse  fierbrandes  at  these  penyfathers  pates. 
I  would  be  porter  and  receiue  them  at  the  gates. 
In  boyling  lead  and  brimston  I  wold  sethe  the»z  ech-one.          225 
The  knaues  haue  al  th&  mony,  good  felows  haue  none! 

DAL.     Play,  brother;  haue  ye  lost  all  your  money  now? 

ISM.     Yea,  I  thanke  that  knaue  and  suche  a  whore  as  y0w  ! 
Tis  no  matter  ; 2  I  wyll  haue  money,  or  I  wyll  swete. 
By  Gogs  bloud,  I  wyll  robbe  the  next  I  mete !  230 

Yea,  and  it  be  my  father! 

He  goeth  out. 

INIQ.     Thou  boy!  by  the  masse,  ye  wyl  clyme  the  ladder! 
Ah,  sira,  I  loue  a  wenche  that  can  be  wylye : 
She  perceyued  my  mind  with  a  twinke  of  myne  eie. 
If  we  two  play  booty3  on  any  man,  235 

We  wyll  make  him  as  bare  as  lob  anone. 
Wei,  Dalila,  let  se  what  ye  haue  won! 

DAL.     Sir,  I  had  x  shillinges  when  I  begon, 
And  here  is  all,  euery  fart[h]yng. 

They  tell  i[/}.* 

INIQ.     Ye  lye  lyke  a  whoore!  ye  haue  won  a  pound.  240 

DAL.     Then  the  deuyll  stryke  me  to  the  grounde! 

1  K.  fet.  8  K.  booby ;  Haz.  boody,  -without  note. 

2  K   marter.  4  Haz.  omits  it ;  the  t  is  missing  in  K. 


468  NICE    WANTON. 

INIQ.     I  will  fele  your  pocket,  by  your  leaue,  mestres! 

DAL.     A-way  knaue  ;  not  mine,  by  the  masse! 

INIQ.     Yes,  bi  God,  and  geue  you  this  to  boot!  244 

He  getteth  her  a  box, 

DAL.     Out,  horeson  knaue,  I  beshrew  thy  hert-root! 
Wilt  thou  rob  me  and  beat l  me,  to  ? 

INIQ.     In  the  way  of  correction,  but  a  blowe  or  twoo. 

DAL.     Correct  thy  dogges !  thou  shalt  not  beate  me  ! 
I  wyl  make  your  knaues  flesshe  cut,  I  warrant  the. 
Ye  thynke  I  haue  no  frendes?     Yes,  I  haue  in  store  2^° 

A  good  felow  or  two,  —  perc[h]aunce  more. 
Yea,  by  the  masse,  they  shall  boxe  2  you  for  this  geare  ! 
A  knaue  I  found  the ;  a  knaue  I  leaue  the  here ! 

She  goeth  oute. 

INIQ.     Gup,  whore  !     Do  ye  heare  this  iade? 
Louing  when  [she]  8  is  pleased ;  255 

When  she  is  angry,  thus  shrewd. 
Thief  brother,  syster  whore,  — 
Two  graffes  of  an  yll  tree! 
I  wyl  tary  no  longer  here  ; 

Fare-well,  God  be  with  ye !  260 

He  goeth  out. 

\A  long  interval.] 

Dalila  commeth  in  ragged,  her  face  hid  or  disfigured,  halting  on  a  staff e. 

DAL.     Alas,  wretched  wretche  that  I  am ! 

Most  miserable  caitife  that  euer  was  borne ! 
Full  of  payne  and  sorow,  croked  and  lame,4 

Stuft  with  diseases,  in  this  world  forlorne !  264 

My  senowes  be  shronken,  my  flesh  eaten  vtiih  pocks, 
My  bones  ful  of  ache[s]  and  great  payne ; 

1  K.  breat.  8  Supplied  by  Haz.  -without  note. 

*  The  x  is  broken  in  K.         4  K.  lome ;  H.  lorn. 


NICE   WANTON.  469 

My  head  is  bald,  that  bare  yelowe  lockes ; 

Croked  I  crepe  to  the  earth  agayne ;  268 

Mine  eie-sight l  is  dimme  ;  my  hands  tremble  and  shake ; 

My  stomake  abhorreth  all  kynd  of  meate  ; 
For  lacke  of  clothes  great  colde  I  take  ; 

When  appetite  2  serueth  I  can  get  no  meate  ;  272 

Where  I  was  fayre  and  amiable  of  face, 

Now  am  I  foule  and  horrible  to  se : 
Al  this  I  haue  8  deserued  for  lacke  of  grace, 

lustly  for  my  sinnes  God  doth  plague  me.  276 

My  parentes  did  tidle  me,  —  they  were  to  blame,  — 
In-steade  of  correction,  in  yll  did  me  maintain. 

I  fell  to  4  naught,  and  shall  dye  with  shame ! 

Yet  all  thys  is  not  halfe  of  my  greife  and  payne:  280 

The  worme  of  my  conscience,  thai  shall  neuer  dye, 

Accuseth  me  dayly  more  and  more. 
So  oft  haue  I  sinned  wilfully 

That  I  feare  to  be  damned  for-euermore.  2^4 

[Enter  Barnabas^ 

BARN.     What  wofull  wight  art  thou,  tell  me, 

That  here  most  greuously  doest  lament? 
Confesse  the  truth,  and  I  wil  comfort  the 

By  the  word  of  God  Omnipotent. 

Although  your  tyme  ye  haue  mispent, 
Repent  and  amend  while  ye  haue  space, 
And  God  wyll  restore  you  to  health  5  and  grace.  291 

DAL.     To  tell  you  who  I  am,  I  dare  not  for  shame  ; 

But  my  filthy  liuing  hath  brought  me  in  this  case. 
Full  oft  for  my  wantonnes  you  dyd  me  blame, 

Yet  to  take  your  councel  I  had  not  the  grace.  29S 

1  K.  sigth.  8  K.  I  haue  I.  5  K.  heatlh. 

2  K.  appetide.  *  K.  no;  corr.  by  Haz. 


47O  NICE    WANTON. 

To  be  restored  to  health,  alas,  it  is  past, 

Disease  hath  brought  me  into  suche  decay  ! 
Helpe  me  with  your  almose  while  my  lyfe  doth  laste, 

That,  like  a  wretche  as  I  am,  I  may  go  my  way. 

BARN.     Shewe  me  your  name,  sister,  I  you  pray, 
And  I  wil  helpe  you  now  at  your  nede : 
Both  body  and  soule  wyl  I  fede.  302 

DAL.     You 1  haue  named  me  already,  if  I  durst  be  so  bold. 

Your 1  sister  Dalila,  that  wreche  I  am. 
My  wanton,  nice  toyes  ye  knew  of  olde,  — 

Alas,  brother,  they  haue  brought  me  to  thys  shame !         3°6 

When  you  went  to  scole,  my  brother  and  I  wold  play, 
Sweare,  chide  and  scolde  2  with  man  and  woman ; 

To  do  shrewde  turnes  our  delyte  was  alwaye ; 

Yet  were  we  tidied,  and  you  beaten  now  and  than.  3 l  ° 

Thus  our  parentes  let  vs  do  what  we  woulde, 

And  you,  by  correction,  they  kept8  vnder  awe; 

When  we  grewe  bigge,  we  were  sturdye  and  bolde, 

By  father  and  mother  we  set  not  a  strawe.  314 

Small  matter  for  me,  I  am  past ! 

But  your  brother  and  mine  is  in  great4  ieoperdy, 
In  daunger  to  come  to  shame  at  the  last, 

He  frameth  hys  liuyng  so  wyckedly.  318 

BARN.     Well,  siker,5  I  euer  feared  ye  would  be  nought, 
Your  lewde  behauiours  sore  greue[d]  6  my  hart. 

To  trayn  you  to  goodnes  al  meanes  haue  I  sought, 

But  in  vaine  ;  yet  wyl  I  play  a  brotherly  part,  322 

For  the7  soul  is  more  precyous,  most  derely  bought 
With  the  bloud  of  Christe  dying  therfore, 

1  Haz.  says  that  K.  interchanges  You  and  Your ;  my  copyist  wrote  Your 
for  You,  but  scratched  out  r.  2  K.  scodle. 

8  K.  kepthe;  possibly  for  kept  the,  -which  Haz.  prints  without  note. 

*  K.  gread.  6  Haz.  changes  to  sister. 

«  Corr.  by  Haz.  7  K.  For  ye  the ;  Haz.  no  note. 


NICE    WANTON.  471 

To  saue  it  fyrst  a  meane  must  be  sought 

At  Gods  hand  by  Chryste,  marines  onely  Sauior.  326 

Consider,  Dalila,  Goddes  fatherly  godnes, 

Which  for  your  good  hath  brought  you  in  thys  case, 

Scourged  you  with  hys  rod,  of  pure  loue  doubtles, 

That  ones  knowing  your-self,  ye  might  cal  for  grace.         330 

Ye  seme  to  repent,  but  I  doubt  what[h]er: 

For  your  sinnes  or  for  the  misery  ye  be  in. 
Earnestly  repent  for  your  synne  rather, 

For  these  plagues  be  but  the  reward  of  sinne.  334 

But  so  repent  that  ye  sinne  no  more, 

And  then  beleue  with  stedfast  faith 
That  God  wyll  forgeue  you  for-euermore 

For  Chrystes  sake,  as  the  Scripture  sayth.  338 

As  for  your  bodye,  if  it  be  curable, 

I  wyll  cause  to  be  healed,  or  2  duryng  your  life 

I  wyl  clothe  you  and  fede  3  you  as  I  am  able. 

Come,  sister,  go  with  me ;  ye  haue  nede  of  relief.  342 

Thei  goo. 

The  iuge\Daniel\,  Iniquitie,  Bayly  [Errand]  come  in  ;  t[he\  ittdge  sitteth 
down.* 

DANIEL.     As  a  iudge  of  the  countrey  here  am  I  come, 

Sent  by  the  Kynges  Maiestye  iustyce  to  do, 
Chiefly  to  procede  in  iudgement  of  a  felon ; 

I  tary  for  the  verdite  of  the  quest  ere  I  go. 

Go,  baily  ;  know  whether  they  be  all  a-greed  or  no ; 
If  they  be  so,  byd  them  come  a-way, 
And  bring  their  prisoner ;  I  wold  hear  what  they  say.  349 

1  K.  whater ;  Haz.  whether. 

2  Haz.  wrongly  changes  to  and. 
*  K.  fete ;  H.  feed,  -with  no  note. 

4  Haz.  gives  this  after  1.  347  in  this  form:  Iniquity,  Baily  errand,  comes 
in  ;  the  judge  sitteth  down.  In  K.  it  is  in  the  margin  opposite  11.  344-347  ; 
the  -words  in  brackets  -were  cut  a-way. 


4/2  NICE    WANTON. 

[BAILY.]     I  go,  my  lord,  I  go,  to  soone  for  one, 
He  is  lyke  to  play  a  cast  wil  breake  his  necke-bone. 
I  beseche  your  lor[d]shyp  be  good  to  hym  ; 
The  man  is  come  of  good  kynne. 

He  tellet\h\l  hym  in  hy\sj-  eare,  that1  at//]1  may  heart.* 

If  your  lordshyp  would  be  so  good  to  me 

As  for  my  sake  to  set  hym  free,  355 

I  could  haue  xx  pound  4  in  a  purse ; 

Yea,  and  your  lordshyp  a  right  faire  horse, 

Well  worth  ten  pound. 

DAN.6     Get  the  a-way,  thou  hell-hound ! 

If  ye  were  well  examined  and  tried,  36° 

Perchaunce  a  false  knaue  ye  would  be  spyed. 

Iniquitye  goeth  oute ;  fAe  iudge  sp\_e\keth 1  styll. 

Brybes,  saith  Salomon,  blind  the.  wise  mans  sight,6 

That  he  can  not  se  to  geue  iudgement  right. 

Should  I  be  a  bribar?  Nay;  he  shall  haue  the  law, 

As  I  owe  to  God  and  the  kyng  obedience  and  awe.  365 

They  bring-  Ismael  in,  bound  lyke  a  prysoner.     [The  jury  comes  also. 
Iniquitie  whispers  to  Ismael.~\ 

INIQ.     Ye  be  tyed  fayre  ynough  for  runnyng  away ; 
If  ye  do  not  after  me,  ye  wyll  be  hanged,  I  dare  say. 
If  thou  tell  no  tales,  but  holde  thy  toungue, 
I  wyl  set  the  at  lybertye  ere  it  be  longe, 
Though  thou  be  iudged  to  dye  anon. 

[lujDGE.1     Come  on,  sirs,  I  pray  you,  come  on. 
Be  you  all  agreed  in  one? 

One  of  them  spekethfor  the  quest. 

[JuROR.]     Yea,  my  lord,  euery-chone.  373 

1  Cut  away.  <  K.  pount. 

2  K.  the.  6  K.  Daniel  th[e]  iudge. 

8  Haz.  He  telleth  him  in  his  ear  the  rest  may  not  hear,  which  cannot 
have  stood  in  the  British  Museum  cofy,  as  may  be  seen  by  arranging  in 
lines.  6  K.  light ;  Haz.  sight. 


NICE    WANTON.  473 

Where  Ismael  was  indited2  by  xij  men 

Of  felony,  burglary  and  murdre, 
As  thinditement  declareth  how,  where,  and  when,  — 

Ye  heard  it  read  to  you  lately,  in  ordre,  — 
You,  with  the  rest,  —  I  trust,  all  true  men,  — 
Be  charged  vpo»  your  othes  to  gyue  verdyte  directly 
Whether  Ismael  therof  be  gilty  or  not  gilty.  380 

\On\efor  the  \_qu\est? 

(JUROR.]4     Gilty,  my  lord,  and  most  gilty. 
[I]NIQ.5  \to  is mael\     Wilt  thou  hange,  horeson  noddy?6 
[!]UDGE.  [to Ismael]     The  Lorde  haue  mercy  vpon  the! 
[IJNIQ.  [to  lsmael\     Tusshe,  holde  thy  tonge,  and  I  warrant 

the!  384 

[I]UDGE.  [to  Ismael}     Thou  shalt  go  to  the  place  thou  camst 

fro, 
Tyl  to-morow  ix  of  the  clocke  there  to  remain ; 

To  the  place  of  execution  then  shalt  thou  go, 
There  be  hanged  to  death ;  and  after,  again, 
Being  dead,  for  ensample  to  be  hanged  in  a  chain. 

Take  hym  away,  and  se  it  be  done, 

At  your  perill,  that  may  fall  thereupon  !  29 r 

[!]SM.     Though  I  be  iudged  to  dye,  I  require  respite, 
For  the  kings  aduantage  in 7  thinges  I  can  recite. 

[!]NIQ.     A-way  with  him,  he  wyll  speake  but  of  spyte. 
[I]UDGE.     Well,  we  will  heare  you  say  what  you  can  ;  395 

1  Cut  away. 

2  K.  intided ;  corr.  by  Haz. 

8  Haz.  rest ;  letters  cut  away. 

*  The  assignment  of  tJie  speeches  here  is  confused  in  K. ;  One  for  the 
quest  is  opposite  1.  381  ;  Iniquitie  off.  382,  Judge  cff.  383,  Iniquitie  off. 
384,  and  ludge  off.  385.  Haz.  assigns  381-383  as  I  do,  but  assigns  all 
after  to  the  Judge,  and  transposes  384  and  385.  My  assignment  merely 
supposes  thai,  like  the  first,  all  the  names  were  put  one  line  too  high. 

6  T fa  first  letter  of  the  next  ten  speakers  is  cut  away. 

6  Haz.  Wilt  thou  hang,  my  lord,  [this]  whoreson  noddy ;  K.  has  my 
Lord,  but  I  regard  it  as  an  intrusion  from  the  preceding  line. 

"  Haz.  emends  to  some. 


474  NICE    WANTON. 

But  se  that  ye  wrongfully  accuse  no  man. 

[IJSM.     I  wyll  be-lye  no  man,  but  thys  I  may  say: 
Here  standeth  he  that  brought  me  to  thys  waye.  • 

[!]NIQ.     My  lorde,  he  lyeth  like  a  dampned  knaue ; 
The  feare  of  death  doth  make  hym  raue.  400 

[IJSM.     His  naughtye  company  and  playe  at  dice 
Dyd  me  first  to  stealyng  entice  ; 
He  was  wz'tA  me  at  roberies,  I  say  it  to  his  face ; 
Yet  can  I  say  more  in  tyme  and  place.1 

INIQ.  [*»<&]     Thou  hast  said  to  much,  I  beshrew  thi  hor- 

sons  face!  —  405 

Hange  him,  my  lord,  out  of  the  way ; 
The  thief  careth  not  what  he  doth  say. 
[Aside]     Let  me  be  hangman,  I  wil  teache  2  him  a  sleight; 
For  feare  of  talkyng  I  wil  strangle  him  streight.  — 
Tary  here  that  lyst,  for  I  wyl  go.  410 

He  would  go. 

IUDG[E].3     No,  no,  my  frend,  not  so ! 
I  thought  alwayes  ye  should  not  be  good, 
And  now  it  wil  proue,  I  se,  by  the  rood ! 
Take  him  and  lay  him  in  yrons  stronge. 
We  wil  talke  with  you  more  ere  it  be  longe.  415 

They  ta\_ke\  him  in  a  h\al\ter  ;  hefi^K\teth  iiAAi  the\m\? 

INIQ.     He  that  layeth  handes  on  me  in  this  place, 
Iche  lay  my  brawlyng-yron  on  his  face  ! 
By  Gogs  bloud,  I  defye  thy  worst ! 
If  thou  shouldest  hange  me,  I  were  a-curst. 

I  haue  bene  at  as  low  an  ebbe  as  this,  420 

And  quyckely  a-loft  again,  by  Gisse! 
I  haue  mo  frendes  then  ye  thynke  I  haue; 
I  am  entertained  of  all  men  lyke  no  slaue. 
Yea,  within  this  moneth,  I  may  say  to  you, 
I  wyl  be  your  seruaunt,  and  your  maister,  to,  —  425 

l  K.  space.  2  K.  teathe. 

8  The  letters  in  brackets  are  cut  away. 


NICE    WANTON.  4/5 

Ye,  crepe  into  your  brest !     Wyl  ye  haue  it  so? 

IUDGE.     A-way  with  them  both!  leade  them  away! 
At  his  death,  tell  me  what  he  doth  say ; 
For  then,  be-lyke,  he  wyll  not  lye. 

INIQ.     I  care  not  for  you  both  ;  no,  not  a  fly  !  430 

They  lead  them  out. 

IUDGE.     If  no  man  haue  here  more  matter  to  say, 
I  must  go  hence  some  other  way. 

He  goeth  out. 
[Enter  Worldly  Shame} 

WORLDLY  SHAME.     Hah  ha!  though  I  come  in  rudely,  be 

not  agast! 

I  must  worke  a  feate  in  al  the  hast! 

I  haue  caught  two  byrdes  :  I  wyll  set  for  the  dame ;  435 

If  I  catche  her  in  my  clutche,  I  wyl  her  tame ! 
Of  all  thys  while  know  ye  not  my  name? 
I  am  right  worshipfull  Maister  Wor[l]dly  Shame. 
The  matter  that  I  come  now  about 

Is  euen  thys,  I  put  you  out  of  dought :  440 

There  is  one  x  Xantippe,  a  curst  shrew,  — 
I  thynke  al  the  world  doth  her  knowe,  — 
Suche  a  iade  she  is  and  so  curst  a  quene 
She  would  out-scold  the  deuils  dame,  I  wene. 
Sirs,  thys  fine  woman  had  babes  three :  445 

Twayne  the  derest  darlinges  that  might  be, — 
Ismael  and  faire  Dalila,  these  two ; 
With  the  loute  Barnabas  I  haue  nothyng  to  do. 
Al  was  good  that  these  tidlynges  do  might, — 
Sweare,  lye,  steale,  scolde,  or  fight,  450 

Carde,2  dyce,  kysse,  clippe,  and  so  furth  : 
All  this  our  Mammy  would  take  in  good  worth. 
Now,  sir[s],  Dalila,  my  daughter,  is  dead  of  th&  pockes, 
And  my  son  hanged3  in  chaynes  and  waueth  his  locks. 

1  K.  none  ;  corr.  by  Haz.  *  Haz.  emends  to  hangeth. 

2  K.  Gardes. 


4/6  NICE    WANTON. 

These  newes  wil  I  tel  her,  and  the  matter  so  frame  455 

That  she  shal  be  thyne  owne,  Mayster  Worldly  Shame. 
Hah  ha  ha! 

Xantippe  commeth  in. 

Peace,  peace!  she  commeth  hereby. 
I  spoke  no  word  of  her,  no,  not  I !  458 

Oh  Mestres  Xantippe,  I  can  tell  you  newes : * 

The  fayre  wenche,  your  dere  daughter  Dalila, 

Is  dead  of  the  pockes,  taken  at  the  stewes ; 
And  thy  sonne  Ismael,  that  preaty  boy, 

Whom,  I  dare  say,  you  loued  very  well, 

Is  hanged  in  chaynes,  euer[y]  2  man  can  tell.  464 

Euery  man  saith  thy  daughter  was  a  strong  whore, 
And  thy  sonne  a  strong  thief  and  a  murderer,  to ; 

It  must  nedes  greue  you  wonderous  sore  8 
That  they  died  so  shamefully,  both  two. 

Men  wyl  taunt  you  and  mock  you,  for  they  say  now 

The  cause  of  their  death  was  euen  verye  you.  470 

XANT.     I  the  cause  of  their  death  ! 

She  wold  sowne. 

WORLDLY  SHAME.     Will  ye   sowne?   the   deuyl   stop  thy 

breath!  472 

Thou  shalt  die,  I  trow,  with  more  shame ; 

I  wyl  get  me  hence  out  of  the  way ; 
If  the  whore  should  dye,  men  would  me  blame,  — 

That  I  killed  her,  knaues  should  say.  Exit.       476 

XANT.     Alas,  alas,  and  weale-away! 

I  may  curse  the  time  that  I  was  borne! 
Neuer  woman  had  suche  fortune,  I  dare  say ; 

Alas,  two  of  my  chyldren  be  forlorne!  480 

1  K.  nedes ;  corr.  by  Haz.,  -who  gives  reading  of  K.  as  neder. 
*  Corr.  by  Haz.  8  K.  sora. 


NICE    WANTON.  4/7 

My  faire  daughter  Dalila  is  dead  of  the  pockes; 

My  dere  sonne  Ismael  hanged  vp  in  chaynes,  — 
Alas,  the  wynd  waueth  his  yelow  lockes! 

It  sleaeth  my  heart  and  breaketh  my  braynes!  484 

Why  should  God  punish  and  plague  me  so  sore, 

To  se  my  children  dye  so  shamefully? 
I  wil  neuer  eate  bread  in  this  world  more  ; 

this  knife  wyl  I  sley  my-self  by-and-by\  488 


She  -wold  stick  herself  e  -with  a  knife. 
\Enter  Barnabas  :] 

BARN.     Beware  what  ye  do  !  fye,  mother,  fye  ! 

Wyl  ye  spyl  your-selfe  for  your  own  offence, 
And  seme  for-euer  to  exclude  Gods  mercy? 

God  doth  punysh  you  for  your  negligence  ; 

Wherfore  take  his  correction  with  pacience 
And  thanke  him  hertely  that,  of  his  godnes, 
He  bringeth  you  in  knowledge  of  your  trespas.  495 

For  when  my  brother  and  sister  were  of  yonge  age, 
You  saw  they  were  geuen  to  ydlenes  and  play, 

Would  apply  no  learnyng  but  Hue  in  outrage, 
And  men  complayned  on  them  euery  day  ; 
Ye  winked  at  theyr  faultes  and  tidied  them  alway  ; 

By  maintenaunce  they  grew  to  mischief  and  yll  ; 

So,  at  last,  Gods  iustice  did  them  both  spill.  502 

In  that  God  preserued  *  me,  small  thanke  to  you  ! 
If  God  had  not  geuen  me  speciall  grace 

To  auoyd  euil  and  do  good,  —  this  is  true  — 
I  had  liued  and  dyed  in  as  wretched  case 
As  they  did,  for  I  had  both  suffraunce  and  space  ; 

But  it  is  an  olde  prouerbe,2  —  you  haue  herd  it,  I  think,  — 

That  God  wyl  haue  se,  shall  not  wynke.  509 

Yet  in  this  we  may  al  take  comfort  : 

They  toke  great  repentaunce,  I  heard  say  ; 

1  K.  preseruerued.  2  K.  prouerke. 


4/8  NICE    WANTON. 

And,  as  for  my  sister,  I  am  able  to  report 

She  lamented  for  her  sinnes  to  her  dy[i]ng-day. 
To  repent  and  beleue  I  exhorted 1  her  alway. 
Before  her  death  she  beleued  that  God,  of  his  mercy, 
For  Christes  sake,  would  saue  her  eternally.  516 

If  you  do  euen  so,  ye  nede  not  despaire, 

For  God  will  frely  remitte  your  sinnes  all. 
Christe  hath  payed  the  raunsom  ;  why  shuld  ye  fear? 

To  beleue  this  and  do  well,  to  God  for  grace  call ; 

All  worldly  cares  let  passe  and  fall ; 
And  thus  comfort  my  father,  I  pray  you  hertely ! 
I  haue  a  lytle  to  say,  I  wyl  come  by-and-by.  523 

Xantippe  goeth  out. 

Right  gentle  audience,  by  thys  interlude  ye  may  se 
How  daungerous  it  is  for  the  frailtye  of  youth, 

Without  good  gouernaunce,  to  lyue  at  libertye. 

Suche  chaunces  as  these  oft  happen,  of  truth  ; 
Many  miscary,  it  is  the  more  ruth, 

By  negligence  of  their  elders  and  not  taking  payne 

In  tyme  good  learnyng  and  qualities  to  attayne.  530 

Therfore  exhort  I  2  al  parentes  to  be  diligent 

In  bringing  vp  their  children,  yea,8  to  be  circumspect; 

Least  they  fall  to  euill,  be  not  negligent, 

But  chastice  them  before  they  be  sore  infect ; 
Accept  their  well-doing,  in  yll  them  reiect. 

A  yonge  plant  ye  may  platte  and  bowe  as  ye  wyll ; 

Where  it  groweth  strong,  there  wyll  it  abyde  styll :  537 

Euen  so  by  chyldren,  —  in  theyr  tender  age 

Ye  may  worke  them  like  waxe  4  to  your  own  entent ; 

But  if  ye  suffer  them  longe  to  Hue  in  outrage, 

They  wil  be  sturdy  and  stiffe,  and  will  not  relent. 
O  ye  chyldren,  let  your  tyme  be  well  spent ; 

1  K.  exorthed ;  the  x  broken.  8  Haz.  emends  to  aye. 

a  K.  exhortyng ;  corr.  by  Haz.  4  The  x  is  broken. 


NICE    WANTON.  479 

Applye  your  learnyng  and  your  elders  obey: 

It  wil  be  your  profit  an-other  day.  544 

He  knele\tK\ 1  downe. 

Now  for  the  Quenes  2  Royal  Maiestie  let  vs  pray, 

That  God,  in  whose  handes  is  Me  hert  of  al  quenes,2 

Maye  endue  Her  2  Highnes  wz'tA  godly  puissance  alwaye, 

That  Her  2  Grace  may  long  raign  and  prosper  in  al  things, 
In  Gods  word  and  iustice  may  giue  light  to  al  quenes.2 

Let  vs  pray  for  the  Honorable  Councel  and  Nobilitie, 

That  they  may  alwayes  counsel  in  wisdow  \vit/i  trawquility. 

God  saue  the  Quene,  the  Realme,  and  Cominaltie!  552 

He  mak\eth~y-  curtesy  an\d~$  goeth  out. 
FINIS. 

T.  R. 


rw  n       r          a  A     SONG. 

[He]re  fyng  » 

Tech  als  anfwea-      ...  ,  .     , 

\ .  ,  J  .,  It  is  good  to  be  mery. 

[rinjg  other,  ' 

[tha]t  alwaies  But  who  can  be  4  mery? 

[the]  iiiSftaffe  He  that  hath  a  pure  conscience, 

[the]y  fingfi  to-  He  may  well  be  mery. 

[ge]theiv 

1  Cut  away  by  binder. 

2  It  is  dear  from  the  rhymes  that  this  play  was  originally  composed  for 
production  before  a  king.  8  K.  relyng.  4  K.  cam  me. 

5  Perhaps  this  should  be  iiii,  but  I  take  the  last  two  lines  to  be  meant 
by  the  third  stave.  6  K.  yfing. 

7  /  supply  letters  cut  off  by  the  binder.  The  alignment  is  that  given  by 
my  copyist;  Haz. prints  some  of  the  words  in  italics,  and  so  aligns  the 
edges  as  to  give  a  different  idea  of  the  amount  missing;  thus : 

resyng, 
answer- 
ing        other 
t  always 
staff 

,        ysing  to 
other. 


480  NICE   WANTON. 

Who  hath  a  pure  conscience?  tel  me! 
No  man,  of  him-self,  I  ensure  the. 
Then  must  it  folow  of  necessitie 

That  no  man  can  be  mery.  8 

Puritie  it-self e  may  purenes  geue ; 
You  must  aske  it  of  God  in  true  beleue. 
Then  wyl  he  geue  it,  and  none  repreue  ; 

And  so  we  may  be  mery.  12 

What  is  the  practice  of  a  conscience  pure? 
To  loue  and  feare  God,  and  other  allure ; 
And,  for  his  sake,  to  helpe  hys  neighbour,  — 

Then  may  he  well  be  mery.  16 

What  shall  he  haue  that  can  and  wil  do  this? 

After  this  life  euerlasting  blisse  : 

Yet  not  by  desert,  but  by  gyft,  y-wisse. 

There  God  make  vs  all  mery !  20 

FINIS. 

Imprinted  at  London,  in  Paules 

Churche  yearde  at  the  Sygne  of 

the  Swane  by  John  Kyng. 


PART   V. 


THE    FOURE    PP. 


Printed  from  the  first  edition  (by  Wyllyam  Myddylton,  London,  n.  d.  [before 
I54?].>-  1°  tne  footnotes  M.  indicates  this  edition  ;  A.  indicates  the  third  edition 
(by  John  Allde,  London,  1569);  Coll.  indicates  the  edition  by  Collier,  in  Dodsley's 
"  Old  Plays  "  (London,  1825).  For  the  readings  of  A.  I  have  had  to  rely  upon 
Collier,  who,  u  must  be  admitted,  is  inaccurate.  I  have  not  pointed  out  the  numer- 
ous instances  in  which  his  text  differs  from  mine  in  finale's.  Hazlitt's  edition 
seems,  so  far  as  the  textual  notes  are  concerned,  mainly  a  reprint  of  Collier's  ;  I 
have  usually  disregarded  it. 


The  playe  called  the  fonre  PP. 

A  newe  and  a'  very  mery  enter lude  of 

A  PALMER. 
A  PARDONER. 
A  POTYCARY. 
A  PEDLER. 

Made  by  John  Heewood. 
[Enter  Palmer  J] 

PALMER.     Nowe  God  be  here,  who  kepeth  this  place! 

Now,  by  my  fayth,  I  crye  you  mercy  ; 
Of  reason  I  must  sew  for  grace, 

My  rewdnes  sheweth  me  no[w]  1  so  homely. 
Wherof  your  pardon  axt  and  wonne, 

I  sew  you,2  as  curtesy  doth  me  bynde, 
To  tell  thys  whiche  shalbe  begonne 

In  order  as  may  come  beste  in  mynde.8 

1  A.  not ;  Coll.  rejects  no. 

2  A.  sue  now. 
8  M.  myndy. 


484  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

I  am  a  palmer,  as  ye  *  se, 

Whiche  of  my  lyfe  much  part  hath  2  spent 
In  many  a  fay  re  and  farre3  countre, 

As  pylgrymes  do  of  good  intent.  12 

At  Hierusalem  4  haue  I  bene 

Before  Chrystes  blessed  sepulture ; 
The  Mount  of  Caluery  haue  I  6  sene, 

A  holy  place,  ye  may  be  sure ;  16 

To  losophat  and  Olyuete 

On  fote,  God  wote,  I  wente  ryght  bare,  — 
Many  a  salt  tere  dyde  I  swete 

Before  thys  carkes  coulde  6  come  there  ;  20 

Yet  haue  I  bene  at  Rome  also, 

And  gone  the  stacions  all  arow, 
Saynt  Peters  Shryne  and  many  mo 

Then,  yf  I  tolde,  all  ye  do  know,  —  24 

Except  that  there  be  any  suche 

That  hath  ben  there  and  diligently 
Hath  taken  hede  and  marked  muche,- 

Then  can  they  speke  as  muche  as  I.  28 

Then  at  the  Rodes  also  I  was ; 
And  rounde  about  to  Amyas  ; 
At  Saynt  Toncomber ;  and  Saynt  Tronion; 
At  Saynt  Bothulph  ;  and  Saynt  Anne  of  Buckston ; 
On  the  Hylles  of  Armony,  where  I  see "  Noes  arke ;  33 

With  holy  lob;  and  Saynt  George  in  Suthwarke; 
At  Waltam  ;  and  at  Walsyngam  ; 
And  at  the  good  Rood  of  Dagnam ; 
At  Saynt  Cornelys  ;  at  Saynt  lames  in  Gales  ; 
And  at  Saynt  Wynefrydes  Well  in  Walles ;  38 

At  Our  Lady  of  Boston ;  at  Saynt  Edmundes-byry ; 
And  streyght  to  Saynt  Patrykes  Purgatory; 
At  Rydybone ;  and  at  the  Blood  of  Hayles, 

'  A.  you,  so  regularly.  5  A.  I  have. 

2  Coll.  A.  have.  «  A.  would. 

8  A.  far  and  faire.  t  A.  saw. 
*  A.  Jerusalem. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  485 

Where  pylgrymes  paynes  ryght  muche  auayles ; 

At  Saynt  Dauys  ;  and  at  Saynt  Denis  ;  43 

At  Saynt  Mathew ;  and  Saynt  Marke  in  Venis ; 

At  Mayster  lohan  Shorne ;  at  Canterbury; 

The  Graet  God  of  Katewade  ;  at  Kynge  Henry ; 1 

At  Saynt  Sauyours;  at  Our  Lady  of  Southwell; 

At  Crome  ;  at  Wylsdome  ;  and  at  Muswell ;  48 

At  Saynt  Rycharde  ;  and  at  Saynt  Roke  ; 

And  at  Our  Lady  that  standeth  in  the  Oke : 

To  these  with  other  many  one 

Deuoutly  haue  I  prayed  and  gone, 

Prayeng  to  them  to  pray  for  me  53 

Unto  the  Blessed  Trynyte  ; 

By  whose  prayers  and  my  dayly  payne 

I  truste  the  soner  to  obtay[n]e  2 

For  my  saluacyon  grace  and  mercy, 

For  be  ye  sure  I  thynke  surely  8  58 

Who  seketh  sayntes  for  Crystes  sake  — 

And  namely  suche  as  payne  do  take 

On  fote  to  punyshe  their  4  frayle  body  — 

Shall  therby  meryte  more  hyely 

Then  by  any-thynge  done  by  man.  63 

{The  Pardoner  has  entered  while  the  Palmer  is  speaking^ 

PARDONER.     And  when  ye  haue  gone  as  farre  as  ye  can, 
For  all  your  labour  and  gostely  entente 
Yet  welcome5  home  as  wyse  as  ye  wente! 

PALMER.     Why,  sir,  dyspyse  ye  pylgrymage? 

PARDONER.     Nay,  for6  God,  syr,  then  dyd  I  rage!  68 

I  thynke  ye  ryght  well  occupyed 
To  seke  these  sayntes  on  euery  syde. 
Also  your  payne 7  I  nat  disprayse  it, 

1  A.  Kerry.  5  A.  Ye  will  come. 

2  Corr.  by  Coll  from  A.  6  Coll.  A.  fore. 

8  A.  assuredly ;  here  and  in  several  other  instances  Coll.  calls  A.  the 
seconded.;  Haz.  usually  follows  him.         "'  A.  paynes. 
*  So  Coll.  from  A  ;  M.  has  thy,  perhaps  for  thys. 


486  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

But  yet  I  discomende  your  wit, 

And,  or  1  we  go,  euen  so  shall  ye,  73 

If  ye  in  this  wyl  answere  me : 

I  pray  you,  shew  what  the  cause  is 

Ye  wente  al  these  pylgrymages. 

PALMER.     Forsoth  this  lyfe  I  dyd  begyn 

To  rydde  the  bondage  of  my  syn,  78 

For  whiche  these  sayntes  rehersed  or  this 
I  haue  both  sought  and  sene,  i-wys, 
Besechynge  them  to  be  2  recorde 
Of  all  mypayne  vnto  the  Lorde, 

That  gyueth  all  remyssyon  83 

Upon  eche  mans  contricyon ; 
And  by  theyr  good  mediacyon, 
Upon  myne  8  humble  submyssion, 
I  trust  to  haue  in  very  dede 
For  my  soule  helth  the  better  spede.  88 

PARDONAR.     Nowe  is  your  owne  confessyon  lyckely 
To  make  your-self e  4  a  fole  quyckely, 
For  I  perceyue  ye  wolde  obtayne 
No  nother5  thynge  for  all  your  payne 

But  onely  grace  your  soule  to  saue.  93 

Nowe  marke  in  this  what  wyt  ye  haue 
To  seke  so  farre,  and  helpe  so  nye : 
Euen  here  at  home  is  remedy, 
For  at  your  dore  my-selfe  doth  dwell, 

Who  coulde  haue  saued  your  soule  as  well  98 

As  all  your  wyde  wandrynge  shall  do, 
Though  ye  wente  thryes  to  lericho. 
Nowe,  syns  ye  myght  haue  spedde  at  home, 
What  haue  ye  wone  by  ronnyng6  at  Rome? 

PALMER.     If  this  be  true  that  ye  haue  moued,  103 

Then  is  my  wyt  in-dede  reproued ; 
But  let  vs  here  fyrste  what  ye  are. 

1  A.  ere ;  so  regularly.  8  A.  my.  5  Coll.  A.  other. 

2  Coll.  bear,  no  note.  *  A.  you. 

»          •  So  my  copyist ;  Coll.  gives  ronnying  as  reading  of  this  edition. 


TFiE    FOURE    PP.  487 

PARDONAR.     Truly  I  am  a  pardoner. 

PALMER.     Truely  a  pardoner,  —  that  may  be  true ; 
But  a  true  pardoner  doth  nat  ensew  !  1 08 

Ryght  selde  is  it  sene  or  neuer 
That  treuth  and  pardoners  dwell  together ; 
For,  be  your  pardons  neuer  so  great, 
Yet  them  to  enlarge  ye  wyll  nat  let 

With  suche  lyes  that  oftymes,  Cryste  wot,  113 

Ye  seme  to  haue  that  ye  haue  nat. 
Wherfore  I  went  my-selfe  to  the  selfe  thynge 
In  euery  place,  and,  without  faynynge, 
Had  as  muche  pardon  there  assuredly 

As  ye  can  promyse  me  here  doutefully.  118 

Howe-be-it  I  thynke  ye  do  but  scoffe  ; l 
But  yf  ye  hadde  all  the  pardon  ye  speke  2  of, 
And  no  whyt  of  pardon  graunted 
In  any  place  where  I  haue  haunted, 

Yet  of  my  labour  I  nothynge  repent.  123 

God  hathe  respect  how  eche  tyme  is  spent, 
And,  as  in  his  knowledge  all  is  regarded, 
So  by  his  goodnes  all  is  rewarded. 

PARDONAR.     By  the  8  fyrste  parte  of  this  laste  tale 
It  semeth  you  come  late  4  from  the  ale ;  1 28 

For  reason  on  your  syde  so  farre  doth  fayle 
That  ye  leue  [rejsonyng5  and  begyn  to  rayle; 
Wherin  ye  forget  your  owne  parte  clerely, 
For  ye  be  as  vntrue  as  I  ; 

And  in  one  poynte  ye  are  beyonde  me,  133 

For  ye  may  lye  by  aucthoryte,  — 
And  all  that  hath6  wandred  so  farre 
That  no  man  can  be  theyr  controller. 
And,  where  ye  esteme  your  labour  so  muche, 
I  say  yet  agayne  my  pardons  be7  suche  138 

1  Coll.  gives   scofte  as   reading  of  M.;   my  copyist   -wrote  scofte,  but 
changed  the  t  to  f. 

2  So  Coll  from  A.;  M.  has  kepe.  6  Corr.  by  Coll.  from  A. 
8  A.  this.                                                    «  Coll.  A.  have. 

4  Coll.  A.  ye  came  of  late.  1  Coll.  A.  are;  so  usually. 


488  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

That,  yf  there  were  a  thousande  soules  on  a  hepe, 

I  wolde  brynge  them  all  to  heuen  as  good  chepe 

As  ye  haue  brought  your-selfe  on  pylgrymage 

In  the  leste  quarter  of  your  vyage, 

Which  is1  farre  a  thys  side  heuen,  by  God!  143 

There  your  labour  and  pardon  is  od, 

With  smale  cost  and  without  any  payne 

These  pardons  bryngeth  2  them  to  heuen  playne  : 

Geue  me  but  a  peny  or  two  pens, 

And  as  sone  as  the  soule  departeth  hens,  1:48 

In  halfe  an  hour,  or  thre  quarters  at  moste, 

The  soule  is  in  heuen  with  the  Holy  Ghost. 

[The  Potycary  has  entered  during  the  last  speech^ 

POTYCARY.     Sende  ye  any  soules  to  heuen  by  water? 

PARDONER.     If  we  dyd,3  syr,  what  is  the  mater? 

POTYCARY.     By  God,  I  haue  a  drye  soule  shulde  thyther  !   1 53 
I  praye  you  let  our  soules  go  to  heuen  togyther. 
So  bysy  you  twayne  be  in  soules  helth, 
May  nat  a  potycary  come  in  by  stelth? 
Yes,  that  I  4  wyll,  by  Saynt  Antony! 

And,  by  the  leue  of  thys  company,  158 

Proue  ye  false  knaues  bothe,  or  we  goo, 
In  parte  of  your  sayenges,  as  thys,  lo  : 5 
Thou  by  thy  trauayle  thynkest  heuen  to  gete ; 
And  thou  by  pardons  and  relyques  countest  no  lete 
To  sende  thyne  owne  soule  to  heuen  sure,  163 

And  all  other  whome  thou  lyste  to  procure : 
If  I  toke  an  accyon,  then  were  they  blanke ; 
For  lyke  theues  the  knaues  rob6  away  my  thanke. 
All  soules  in  heuen  hauynge  relefe, 

Shall  they  thanke  your  craftes?  nay,  thanke  myn  chefe !  168 

No  soule,  ye  knowe,  entreth  heuen  gate 
Tyll  from  the  bodye  he  be  separate ; 

1  CoL  gives  reading  of  this  ed.  as  as.    4  A.  we. 

2  Coll.  A.  bring.  6  So  Coll.,  without  note;  M.  has  so. 
8  ColL  A.  doo.  6  A.  they  rob. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  489 

And  whome  haue  ye  knowen  dye  ho[ne]stlye  1 

Without  helpe  of  the  potycary? 

Nay,  all  that  commeth  to  our  handlynge,  —  175 

Except  ye  happe  to  come  to  hangynge : 

That  way,  perchaunce,  ye  shall  nat  myster 

To  go  to  heuen  without  a  glyster! 

But,  be  ye  sure,  I  wolde  be  wo 

If2  ye  shulde  chaunce3  to  begyle  me  so.  178 

As  good  to  lye  with  me  a-nyght 

As  hange  abrode  in  the  mone  lyght! 

There  is  no  choyse  to  fle  my  hande 

But,  as  I  sayd,  into  the  bande. 

Syns  of  our  soules  the  multitude  183 

I  sende  to  heuen,  when  all  is  vewed, 

Who  shulde  but  I  then  all-togyther 

Haue  thanke  of  all  theyr  commynge  thyther? 

PARDONER.       If    ye    kylde    a    thousande    in    an   houre 

space, 
When  come  they  to  heuen,  dyenge  from  state  of  grace?4  188 

POTYCARY.     If  a  thousande  pardons  about  your5  neckes 

were  teyd, 
When  come  they  to  heuen  yf  they  neuer  dyed? 

PALMER.     Longe  lyfe  after  good  workes  in-dede 
Doth  hynder  mannes  receyt  of  mede, 

And  deth  before  one  dewty  done  193 

May  make  vs  thynke  we  dye  to  sone ; 
Yet  better  tary  a  thynge,  then  haue  it, 
Then  go  to  sone  and  vaynly  craue  it. 

PARDONER.     The  longer  ye  dwell  in  communicacion, 
The  lesse  shall  you  lyke  thys  ymagynacyon;  198 

For  ye  may  perceyue  euen  at  the  fyrst  chop 
Your  tale  is  trapt  in  such  a  stop 
That,  at  the  leste,  ye  seme  worse  then  we. 

POTYCARY.     By  the  masse,  I  holde  vs  nought  all  thre! 

1  Corr.  by  Coll.  from  A.  4  Coll.  A.  dyenge  out  of  grace. 

2  A.  That.  5  Qy.  their. 
8  M.  chaunge  ;  Coll.  chaunce,  without  note. 


49O  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

[The  Pedler  has  entered  in  time  to  hear  the  last  speech.] 

PEDLER.     By  Our  Lady,  then  haue  I  gone  wronge  ;  203 

And  yet  to  be  here  I  thought  longe ! 

POTYCARY.     Brother,  ye  haue  gone  wronge  no  w[h]yt 
I  prayse  your  fortune  and  your  wyt, 
That  can  dyrecte  you  so  discretely 

To  plante  you  in  this  company :  208 

Thou  [a]  *  palmer,  and  thou  a  pardoner, 
I  a  potycary. 

PEDLER.     And  I  a  pedler. 

POTYCARY.     Nowe  on  my  f ayth  full  well  watched !  * 
Were3  the  deuyll  were  we  foure  hatched? 

PEDLER.     That  maketh  no  mater,  syns  we  be  matched.       213 
I  coulde  be  mery  yf  that  I  catchyd 
Some  money  for  parte  of  the  ware  in  my  packe. 

POTYCARY.     What  the  deuyll  hast  thou  there  at  thy  backe? 

PEDLER.     Why,  dost  thou  nat  knowe  that  every  pedler  4 
In  euery  tryfull 5  must  be  a  medler?  218 

Specyally  in  womens  tryflynges,  — 
Those  vse  we  chefe 6  aboue  all  thynges. 
Whiche  thynges  to  se  yf  ye  be  disposed, 
Beholde  what  ware  here  is  disclosed. 

Thys  gere  sheweth  it-selfe  in  suche  bewte  223 

That  eche  man  thynketh  7  it  sayth  :  come,  bye  me ! 
Loke,  were  8  your-selfe  can  lyke  to  be  chooser, 
Your-selfe  shall  make  pryce  though  I  be  looser ! 
Is  here9  nothynge  for  my  father  Palmer? 

Haue  ye  nat  a  wanton  in  a  corner  228 

For10  your  walkyng  to  holy  places? 
By  Cryste,  I  haue  herde  of  as  straunge  cases! 
Who  lyueth  in  loue  or  loue  wolde  wynne, 
Euen  at  this  packe  he  must  begynne, 

l  Inserted  by  Coll.,  -without  note.  6  Coll.  A.  cheefly. 

3  Qy.  matched.  7  A.  thinks. 

3  Coll.  Where,  without  note.  8  Coll.  where,  without  note. 

*  M.  pedled  ;  corr.  silently  by  Coll.  »  A.  there. 

6  Coll.  A.  In  all  kind  of  trifles.  10  Coll.  For  all,  without  note. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  49! 

Where  l  is  ryght  many  a  proper  token,  233 

Of  whiche  by  name  parte  shall  be  spoken : 

Gloues,  pynnes,  combes,  glasses  vnspottyd, 

Pomanders,  hookes,  and  lasses  knotted,2 

Broches,  rynges,  and  all  maner  bedes, 

Lace,8  rounde  and  flat,  for  womens  hedes,  238 

Nedyls,  threde,  thymb«ll[s],4  shers,  and  all  suche  knackes,  — 

Where  louers  be,  no  suche  thynges  lackes,  — 

Sypers,  swathbondes,  rybandes,  and  sleue-laces, 

Gyrdyls,  knyues,  purses,  and  pyncases. 

POTYCARY.     Do  women  bye  theyr  pyncases  of  you?  243 

PEDLER.     Ye,  that  they  do,  I  make  God  a-vow! 

POTYCARY.     So  mot  I  thryue,  then  for  my  parte, 
I  be-shrewe  thy  knaues  nakyd  herte 
For  makynge  my  wyfeys  pyncase  so  wyde! 

The  pynnes  fall  out,  they  can  nat  abyde.  248 

Great  pynnes  must  she  haue,  one  or  other ; 
Yf  she  lese  one,  she  wyll  fynde  an-other,  — 
Wherin  I  fynde  cause  to  complayne,  — 
New  pynnes  to  her  pleasure  and  my  payne! 

PARDONER.     Syr,  ye  seme  well  sene  in  womens  causes :       253 
I  praye  you,  tell  me  what  causeth  this, 
That  women,  after  theyr  arysynge,5 
Be  so  longe  in  theyr  apparelynge? 

PEDLER.     Forsoth,  women  haue  many  lettes, 
And  they  be  masked6  in  many  nettes  : "  258 

As,  frontlettes,  fyllettes,  par[t]lettes8  and  barcelettes ; 
And  then  theyr  bonettes,  and  theyr  poynettes. 
By  these  lettes  and  nettes  the  lette  is  suche 
That  spede  is  small  whan  haste  is  muche. 

POTYCARY.     An-other  cause  why  they  come  nat  forwarde,  263 

1  Coll.  A.  Wherin.  8  Coll.  A.  Laces. 

2  A.  unknotted.  4  A.  has  the  plural.  5  A.  uprising. 
6  So  Coll.,  without  note ;  the  word  now  looks  like  maiked. 

"  So  Coll.,  -without  note;  the  word  now  looks  like  frettes,  but  the  line  is  at 
the  top  of  the  page  and  the  upper  half  of  long  letters  has  been  trimmed 
away.  8  Coll.  partlettes,  without  note. 


492  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

Whiche  maketh  them  dayly  to  drawe  backwarde, 

And  yet *  is  a  thynge  they  can  nat  forbere : 

The  trymmynge  and  pynnynge  vp  theyr  gere, 

Specyally  theyr  fydlyng  with  the  tayle-pyn, — 

And  when  they  wolde  haue  it  prycke  2  in,  268 

If  it  chaunce  to  double  in  the  clothe 

Then  be  they3  wode  and  swereth*  an  othe- 

Tyll  it  stande  ryght,  they  wyll  nat  forsake  it. 

Thus,  though  it  may  nat,  yet  wolde  they  make  it. 

But  be  ye  sure  they  do  but  defarre  it,  .      273 

For,  when  they  wolde  make  it,  ofte  tymes  marre  it. 

But  prycke  them  and  pynne  them  as  myche  5  as  ye  wyll, 

And  yet  wyll  they  loke  for  pynnynge  styll ; 

So  that  I  durste  holde  you  a  ioynt6 

Ye  shall  neuer  haue  them  at  a  full"  poynt.  278 

PEDLER.     Let  womens  maters  passe,  and  marke  myne! 
What-euer  theyr  poyntes  be,  these  poyntes  be  fyne. 
Wherfore,  yf  ye  be  wyllynge  to  bye, 
Ley  downe  money  !  come  of  quyckely ! 

PALMER.     Nay,  by  my  trouth,  we  be  lyke  fryers  :  283 

We  are  but  beggers,  we  be  no  byers. 

PARDONER.      Syr,   ye  maye  showe   your  ware  for   your 

mynde, 
But  I  thynke  ye  shall  no  profyte  fynde. 

PEDLER.     Well,  though  thys  Journey8  acquyte  no  coste, 
Yet  thynke  I  nat  my  labour  loste  ;  288 

For,  by  the  fayth  of  my  body, 
I  lyke  full  well  thys  company. 
Up  shall  this  packe,  for  it  is  playne 
I  came  not  hyther  al  for  gayne. 
Who  may  nat  play  one  day  in  a  weke,  293 

1  A.  it.  8  A.  they  be. 

2  Coll.  A.  prickt.  <  Coll.  A.  swere. 

6  M.  nyche ;  A.  nie ;  Coll.  suggested  much  as  the  meaning;  Haz.  emends 
to  nice. 

6  M.  toynt ;  Coll.  with  you  a  joynt,  without  note. 

7  Coll.  A.  ful(l) ;  M.  fall,  -which  is  possible. 

8  M.  your  ney  ;  Coll.  journey,  -without  note. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  493 

May  thynke  hys  thryfte  is  farre  to  seke! 
Deuyse  what  pastyme  ye  thynke  beste, 
And  make  ye  sure  to  fynde  me  prest. 

POTYCARY.     Why,  be  ye  so  vnyuersall 
That  you  can  do  what-so-euer  ye  shall?  298 

PEDLER.     Syr,  yf  ye  lyste  to  appose  l  me, 
What  I  can  do  then  shall  ye  se. 

POTYCARY.     Then  tell  me  thys:  be  ye  perfyt  in  drynk- 
ynge? 

PEDLER.     Perfyt  in  drynkynge  as  may  be  wysht  by  thynk- 
yng! 

POTYCARY.     Then  after  your  drynkyng  how  fall  ye  to 

wynkyng?  303 

PEDLER.      Syr,    after    drynkynge,    whyle    the    shot    is 

tynkynge, 

Some  hedes  be  swynking,2  but  myne  wyl  be  synkynge, 
And  vpon  drynkynge  myne  eyse  wyll  be  pynkynge, 
For  wynkynge  to  drynkynge  is  alway  lynkynge. 

POTYCARY.     Then  drynke  and  slepe  ye  can  well.  do.  308 

But,  yf  ye  were  desyred  therto, 
I  pray  you,  tell  me,  can  you  synge? 

PEDLER.     Syr,  I  haue  some  syght  in  syngynge. 

POTYCARY.     But  is  your  brest  any-thynge  swete? 

PEDLER.     What-euer  my  breste  be,  my  voyce  is  mete.          313 

POTYCARY.     That  answer  sheweth  you  a  ryght  syngynge 

man. 
Now  what  is  your  wyll,  good  father,  than? 

PALMER.     What  helpeth  wyll  where  is  no  skyll? 

PARDONER.     And  what  helpeth  skyll  where  is  no  wyll?3 

POTYCARY.     For  wyll  or  skyll,  what  helpeth  it  318 

Where  frowarde  knaues  be  lackynge  wyt?4 
Leue  of  thys  curyosytie  ; 
And  who  that  lyste,  synge  after  me! 

1  Coll.  oppose,  -without  note. 

2  A.;  Coll.  M.  swymmyng. 

8  Coll.  A.  wil ;  M.  wyt ;  see  next  note. 

*  Coll.  A.  wit ;  M.  wyll ;  see  preceding  note. 


494  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

• 
Here  they  syng-e.1 

PEDLER.     Thys  lyketh  me  well,  so  mot  J  the ! 

PARDONER.     So  helpe  me  God,  it  lyketh  nat  me!  323 

Where  company  is  met  and  well  agreed, 
Good  pastyme  doth  ryght  well  in-dede ; 
But  who  can  syt2  in  dalyaunce 
Men  syt 8  in  suche  a  variaunce 

As  we  were  set  or  ye  came  in?  328 

Whiche  stryfe  thys  man  dyd  fyrst  begynne, 
Allegynge  that  suche  men  as  vse 
For  loue  of  God,  and  nat 4  refuse, 
On  fot  to  goo  from  place  to  place 

A  pylgrymage,  callynge  for  grace,  333 

Shall  in  that  payne  with  penitence 
Obtayne  discharge  of  conscyence, — 
Comparynge  that  lyfe  for  the  beste 
Enduccyon  to  our  endles  reste. 

Upon  these  wordes  our  mater  grewe ;  338 

For,  yf  he  coulde  auow  them  true, 
As  good  to  be  a  gardener 
As  for  to  be  a  pardoner. 
But,  when  I  harde  hym  so  farre  wyde, 

I  then  aproched  and  replyed,  343 

Sayenge  this:  that  this5  indulgence, 
Hauyng  the  forsayd  penitence, 
Dyschargeth  man  of  all  offence 
With  muche  more  profyt  then  this  pretence. 

I  aske  but  two  pens  at  the  moste,  —  348 

I-wys,  this  is  nat  very  great  coste, — 
And  from6  all  payne,  without  dyspayre, — 
My  soule  for  his,  —  kepe  euen  his  chayre,r 
And  when  he  dyeth  he  may  be  sure 
To  come  to  heuen,  euen  at  pleasure.  353 

1  The  song  is  not  given.  2  Qy.  fet.  8  Qy.  set. 

4  M.  nat  and ;  Coll.  A.  and  not. 

5  A.  his,  -which  would  be  very  appropriate  in  1.  347. 

6  A.  for.  7  A.  for  to  keep  even  in  his  chair. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  495 

And  more  then  heuen  he  can1  nat  get, 

How  farre  so-euer  he  lyste  to  iet. 

Then  is  hys  payne  more  then  hys  wit 

To  wa[l]ke '  to  heuen,  syns  he  may  syt ! 

Syr,  as  we  were  in  this  contencion,  358 

In  came  thys  daw  with  hys  inuencyon, 

Reuelynge  vs,  hym-selfe  auauntynge, 

That  all  the  soules  to  heuen  assendynge 

Are  most  bounde  to  the  potycary, 

Bycause  he  helpeth  most  men  to  dye ;  363 

Before  whiche  deth  he  sayeth,  in-dede, 

No  soule  in  heuen  can  haue  hys  mede. 

PEDLER.     Why,  do  potycaries  kyll  men? 

POTYCARY.     By  God,  men  say  so  now  and  then ! 

PEDLER.     And  I  thought  ye  wolde  nat  haue  myst  368 

To  make  men3  lyue  as  longe  as  ye  lyste. 

POTYCARY.     As  longe  as  we  lyste?  nay,  longe4  as   they 
can ! 

PEDLER.     So  myght  we  lyue  without  you  than. 

POTYCARY.     Ye,  but  yet  it  is  6  necessary 

For  to  haue  a  potycary ;  373 

For  when  ye  fele  your  conscyens  redy, 
I  can  sende  you  to  heuen  6  quyckly. 
Wh  erf  ore,  concernynge  our  mater  here, 
Aboue  these  twayne  I  am  best,  clere ; 

And,  yf  ye  7  lyste  to  take  me  so,  378 

I  am  content  you  and  no  mo 
Shall  be  our  iudge  as  in  thys  case, 
Whiche  of  vs  thre  shall  take  the  best  place. 

PEDLER.     I  neyther  wyll  iudge  the  beste  nor  worste  ; 
For,  be  ye  bleste  or  be  ye  curste,  383 

Ye  know  it  is  no  whyt  my  sleyght8 
To  be  a  iudge  in  maters  of  weyght. 

1  A.  may.  6  A.  but  it  is  very. 

2  M.  wake ;  Coll.  A.  walke.  *  A.  inserts  very. 

8  Coll.  them,  without  note.  7  So  Coll.  A. ;  M.  he. 

4  Coll.  as  longe,  without  note.        8  M.  fleyght ;  corr.  silently  by  ColL 


4Q6  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

It  behoueth  no  pedlers  nor  proctours 
To  take  on  them  iudgemente  as  doctours. 

But,  yf  your  myndes  be  onely  set  388 

To  worke  for  soule  helthe,  ye  be  well  met ; 
For  eche  of  you  somwhat  doth  showe 
That  soules  towarde  heuen  by  you  do  growe ; 
Then,  yf  ye  can  so  well  agree 

To  contynue  togyther  all  thre  393 

And  all  you  thre  obey  on *  wyll, 
Then  all  your  myndes  ye  may  fulfyll: 
As,  yf  ye  came  all  to  one  man 
Who  shulde  goo  2  pylgrymage  more  then  he  can, 
[To  Palmer]     In  that  ye,  palmer,  as  debite,  398 

May  clerely  dyscharge  8  hym,  parde  ; 

[To  Pardoner}     And  for  all  other  syns,  ones  had  contryssyon, 
Your  pardons  geueth  hym  full  remyssyon  ; 
[To  Potycary}      And  then  ye,  mayster  potycary, 
May  sende  hym  to  heuen  by-and-by.  403 

POTYCARY.      Yf   he   taste   this  boxe   nye   aboute   the 

pryme, 

By  the  masse,  he  is  in  heuen  or  euensonge  tyme ! 
My  craft  is  suche  that  I  can  ryght  well 
Sende  my  fryndes  to  heuen  and  my-selfe  to  hell. 
But,  syrs,  marke  this  man,  for  he  is  wyse  408 

How  4  coulde  deuyse  suche  a  deuyce  ; 
For  yf  we  thre  may  be  as  one, 
Then  be  we  6  lordes  euerychone,  — 
Betwene  vs  all  coulde  nat  be  myste 

To  saue  the  soules  of  whome  we  lyste.  413 

But,  for  good  order,  at  a  worde, 
Twayne  of  vs  must  wayte  on  the  thyrde  ; 
And  vnto  that  I  do  agree, 
For  bothe  you  twayne  shall  wayt  on  me. 

1  Coll.  silently  corrects  to  one.  2  A.  inserts  on. 

8  M.  dyscharde  ;  so  Coll.,  -without  note. 

4  Coll.  gives  readiiiff  of  M.  as  Howe,  and  corrects  the  spelling  to  who. 

5  A.  were  we  as. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  497 

PARDONER.     What  chaunce  is  this  that  suche  an  elfe1         418 
Commaund  two  knaues,  besyde  hym-selfe? 
Nay,  nay,  my  frende,  that  wyll  nat  be ; 
I  am  to  good  to  wayt  on  the ! 

PALMER.     By  Our  Lady,  and  I  wolde  be  loth 
To  wayt  on  the  better  on  2  you  both  !  423 

PEDLER.     Yet  be  ye  sewer,  for  all  thys  dout, 
Thys  waytynge  must  be  brought  about. 
Men  can  nat  prosper,  wylfully  ledde ; 
All  thynge  decayeth  8  where  is  no  hedde. 

Wherfore,  doutlesse,  marke  what  I  say :  428 

To  one  of  you  thre  twayne  must  obey ; 
And,  synnes  ye  can  nat  agree  in  voyce 
Who  shall  be  hed,  there  is  no  choyse 
But  to  deuyse  some  maner  thynge 

Wherin  ye  all  be  lyke  connynge ;  433 

And  in  the. same  who  can  do  beste, 
The  other  twayne  to  make  them  preste 
In  euery  thynge  of  hys  entente 
Holly  4  to  be  at  commaundement. 

And  now  haue  I  founde  one  mastry  438 

That  ye  can  do  in-dyfferently, 
And  is  nother  sellynge  nor  byenge, 
But  euyn  only  very  lyenge  ; 
And  all  ye  thre  can  lye  as  well 

As  can  the  falsest  deuyll  in  hell.  443 

And,  though  afore  ye  harde  me  grudge 
In  greater  maters  to  be  your  iudge, 
Yet  in  lyeng  I  can  some  skyll, 
And,  yf  I  shall  be  iudge,  I  wyll ; 
And,  be  ye  sure,  without  flatery,  448 

1  Both  M.  and  A.  assign  11.  418,  419  to  the  Potycary,  and  have  419: 
Commaunded  two  knaues  be,  besyde  hym  selfe;  the  p resent  text  appeared 
in  the  first  edition  of  Dodsley ;  Collier  thinks  M.  A.  may  be  correct. 

2  Coll.  silently  changes  to  of. 

•     8  M.  decayed;  Coll.  A.  decay. 

*  For  some  occult  reason  Coll.  changes  this  to  Holy. 


498  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

Where  my  consciens  fyndeth  the  mastrye, 
Ther  shall  my  Judgement  strayt  be  founde, 
Though  I  myght  wynne  a  thousande  pounde. 

PALMER.     Syr,  for  lyeng,  though  I  can  do  it, 
Yet  am  I  loth  for  to  goo  to  it.  453 

PEDLER.  [to  Palmer]     Ye  haue   nat l   cause  to  feare  to  be 

bolde,2 

For  ye  may  be  here  3  vncontrolled. 
[To  Pardoner]      And  ye  in  this  haue  good  auauntage, 
For  lyeng  is  your  comen  vsage. 

[To  Potycary]      And  you  in  lyenge  be  well  spedde,  458 

For  all  your  craft  doth  stande  in  falshed. 
Ye  nede  nat  care  who  shall  begyn, 
For  eche  of  you  may  hope  to  wyn. 
Now  speke,  all  thre,  euyn  as  ye  fynde : 
Be  ye  agreed  to  folowe  my  mynde?  463 

PALMER.     Ye,  by  my  trouth,  I  am  content. 

PARDONER.     Now,  in  good  fayth,  and  I  assente. 

POTYCARY.     If  I  denyed,  I  were  a  nody, 
For  all  is  myne,  by  Goddes  body ! 

Here  the  Potycary  hoppeth. 

PALMER.     Here  were  a  hopper  to  hop  for  the  rynge !  468 

But,  syr,4  thys  gere  goth  nat  by  hoppynge. 

POTYCARY.     Syr,  in  this  hopynge  I  wyll  hop  so  well 
That  my  tonge  shall  hop  as  well  as  5  my  hele ; 
Upon  whiche  hoppynge  I  hope,  and  nat  doute  it, 
To  hope6  so  that  ye  shall  hope  6  without  it.7  473 

PALMER.     Syr,  I  wyll  neyther  boste  ne  brawll,8 
But  take  suche  fortune  as  may  fall ; 
And,  yf  ye  wynne  this  maystry, 
I  wyll  obaye  you  quietly. 

1  Coll.  A.  no.  6  M.  aswell  as ;  Coll.  A.  better  than. 

2  A.  beholde.  «  Coll.  A.  hop. 

*  Coll.  gives  reading  of  M.  as  may  here,  and  that  of  A.  as  may  lie ;  he 
prints  may  here  lie.  J  M.  omits  it. 

4  A.  sirs.  »  M.  drawll ;  corr.  silently  by  Coll. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  499 

And  sure  I  thynke  that  quietnesse  478 

In  any  man  is  great  rychesse, 

In  any  maner  company, 

To  rule  or  1  be  ruled  indifferently. 

PARDONER.     By  that  host  thou  semest  a  begger  in-dede. 
What  can  thy  quyetnesse  helpe  vs  at  nede  ?  483 

Yf  we  shulde  starue,  thou  hast  nat,  I  thynke, 
One  peny  to  bye  vs  one  potte  of  drynke. 
Nay,  yf  rychesse  mygh[t]e  2  rule  the  roste, 
Beholde  what  cause  I  haue  to  boste ! 

Lo,  here  be  3  pardons  halfe  a  dosyn !  488 

For  gostely  ryches  they  haue  no  cosyn ; 
And,  more-ouer,  to  me  they  brynge 
Sufficient  succour  for  my  lyuynge. 
And  here  be  3  relykes  of  suche  a  kynde 

As  in  this  worlde  no  man  can  4  fynde.  493 

Knele  downe,  all  thre,  and,  when  ye  leue  kyssynge, 
Who  lyste  to  offer  shall  haue  my  blyssynge ! 
Frendes,  here  shall  ye  se  euyn  anone 
Of  All- Hallows  the  blessyd  iaw-bone,  — 
Kys  it  hardely,  with  good  deuocion  !  498 

POTYCARY.     This  kysse  shall  brynge   vs  muche  promo- 

cyon.  — 

Fogh!  by  Saynt  Sauyour,  I  neuer  kyst  a  wars ! 
Ye  were  as  good  kysse  All-Hallows  ars ! 
For,  by  All-Halows,  me  thynketh 
That  All-Halows  breth  stynkith.  503 

PALMER.     Ye  iudge  All-Halows  breth  vnknowen ; 
Yf  any  breth  stynke,  it  is  your  owne. 

POTYCARY.     I  knowe  myne  owne  breth  from  All-Halows, 
Or  els  it  were  tyme  to  kysse  the  galows. 

PARDONER.     Nay,  syrs,  beholde,  here  may  ye  se  508 

The  great-toe  of  the  Trinite  : 
Who  to  thys  toe  any  money  voweth, 
And  ones  may  role  it  in  his  moueth, 

1  A.  inserts  to.  8  A.  are. 

2  M.  myghe ;  corr.  silently  by  Coll.  *  A.  may. 


5OO  JOHN    HEYWQOD. 

All  hys  lyfe  after,  I  vndertake, 

He  shall  be  ryd  of1  the  toth-ake.  513 

POTYCARY.     I  praye  you  torne  that  relyke  aboute  ! 
Other2  the  Trinite  had  the  goute, 
Or  elles,  bycause  it  is  iii  toes  in  one, 
God  made  it  muche  as  3  thre  toes  alone. 

PARDONER.4      Well,   lette    that   passe,    and    loke    vpon 

thys ; —  518 

Here  is  a  relyke  that  doth  nat  mys 
To  helpe  the  leste  as  well 5  as  the  moste : 
This  is  a  buttocke-bone  of  Pentecoste. 

POTYCARY.     By  Chryste,  and  yet,  for  all  your  boste, 
Thys  relyke  hath  be-shyten  the  roste !  523 

PARDONER.     Marke  well  thys  relyke,  — here  is  a  whipper  ! 
My  f riendes  6  vnf ayned,  here 7  is  a  slypper 
Of  one  of  the  Seuen  Slepers,  be  sure. 
Doutlesse  thys  kys  shall  do  you  great  pleasure, 
For  all  these  two  dayes  it  shall  so  ease  you  528 

That  none  other  sauours  shall  displease  you. 

POTYCARY.    All  these  two  dayes  !  nay,  all  thys8  two  yere  ! 
For  all  the  sauours  that  may  come  here 
Can  be  no  worse ;  for,  at  a  worde, 
One  of  the  Seuen  Slepers  trode  in  a  torde.  533 

PEDLER.     Syr,  me  thynketh  your  deuocion  is  but  smal. 

PARDONER.     Small?  mary,  me  thynketh  he  hath  none  at 
all! 

POTYCARY.     What  the  deuyll  care  I  what  ye  thynke? 
Shall  I  prayse  relykes  when  they  stynke? 

PARDONER.     Here  is  an  eye-toth  of  the  Great  Turke :          538 
Whose  eyes  be  ones  sette  on  thys  pece  of  worke 
May  happely  lese  parte  of  his  eye-syght, 
But  nat  all 9  tyll  he  be  blynde  out-ryght. 

1  Coll.  A.  shall  never  be  vext  with.  6  A.  freend. 

2  Coll.  A.  either.  1  A.  this. 

«  Coll.  A.  as  much(e)  as.  8  Coll.  A.  these. 

*  M.  Potycary.  »  Coll.  omits  all,  without  note. 

6  M.  aswell. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  5OI 

POTYCARY.     What-so-euer  any  other  man  seeth, 
I  haue  no  deuocion  l  to 2  Turkes  teeth  ;  543 

For,  ail-though  I  neuer  sawe  a  greter, 
Yet  me  thynketh  I  haue  sene  many  better. 

PARDONER.     Here  is  a  box  full  of  humble-bees 
That  stonge  Eue  as  she  sat  on  her  knees 

Tastynge  the  frute  to  her  forbydden  :  548 

Who  kysseth  the  bees  within  this  hydden 
Shall  haue  as  muche  pardon,  of  ryght, 
As  for  any  relyke  he  kyst  thys  nyght. 

PALMER.     Syr,  I  wyll  kysse  them,  with  all  my  herte. 

POTYCARY.     Kysse  them  agayne,  and  take  my  parte,  553 

For  I  am  nat  worthy,  —  nay,  lette  be, 
Those  bees  that  stonge  Eue  shall  nat  stynge  me ! 

PARDONER.     Good  frendes,  I  haue  ye[s]t[e]  here  in8  thys  glas, 
Whiche  on  the  drynke  at  the  weddynge  was 

Of  Adam  and  Eue  vndoutedly  ;  558 

If  ye  honor  this  relyke  deuoutly, 
Ail-though  ye  thurste  no  whyt  the  lesse, 
Yet  shall  ye  drynke  the  more  doutlesse, — 
After  whiche  drynkynge  ye  shall  be  as  mete 
To  stande  on  your  hede  as  on  your  fete.  563 

POTYCARY.     Ye,  mary,  now  I  can4  ye5  thanke  ; 
In  presents  of  thys  the  reste  be  blanke. 
Wolde  God  this  relyke  had  come  rather  ! 
Kysse  that  relyke  well,  good  father! 

Suche  is  the  payne  that  ye  palmers  take  568 

To  kysse  the  pardon-bowle  for  the  drynke  sake. 
O  holy  yeste,  that  loketh  full  sowr  and  stale, 
For  Goddes  body  helpe  me  to  a  cuppe  of  ale  ! 
The  more  I  be-holde6  the,  the  more  I  thurste; 
The  oftener  I  kysse  the,  more  lyke  to  burste !  573 

But  syns  I  kysse  the  so  deuoutely, 
Hyre  me,  and  helpe  me  with  drynke  till  I  dye! 

1  M.  devacion  ;  Coll.  devocyon,  -without  note. 

2  Coll.  A.  unto.  *  Coll.  A.  con.  6  A.  see. 
*  A.  omits  here.                  6  ColL  you,  -without  note. 


5O2  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

What,  so  muche  prayenge  and  so  lytell  spede  ? 

PARDONER.     Ye,  for  God  knoweth  whan  it  is  nede 
To  sende  folkes  drynke ;  but,  by  Saynt  Antony,  578 

I  wene  he  hath  sent  you  to  muche  all-redy. 

POTYCARY.     If  I  haue  neuer  the  more  for  the, 
Then  be  the  relykes  no  ryches  to  me, 
Nor  to  thy-selfe,  excepte  they  be 

More  benefycyall  then  I  can  se.  583 

Rycher  is  one  boxe  of  [tjhis  1  tryacle 
Then  all  thy  relykes  that  do  no  myrakell. 
If  thou  haddest  prayed  but  halfe  so  muche  to  me 
As  I  haue  prayed  to  thy  relykes  and  the, 

Nothynge  concernynge  myne  occupacion  588 

But  streyght  shulde  haue  wrought  in2  operacyon. 
And,  as  in  value,  I  pas  you  an  ace. 
Here  8  lyeth  muche  rychesse  in  lytell  space,  — 
I  haue  a  boxe  of  rebarb  here, 

Whiche  is  as  deynty  as  it  is  dere.  593 

So  *  helpe  me  God  and  hollydam, 
Of  this  I  wolde  nat  geue  a  dram6 
To  the  beste  frende  I  haue  in  Englandes  grounde 
Though  he  wolde  geue  me  xx  pounde ; 

For,  though  the  stomake  do  it  abhor,  598 

It  pourget[h]  you  clene  from  the  color,  . 
And  maketh  your  stomake  sore  to  waiter, 
That  ye  shall  neuer  come  to  the  halter. 

PEDLER.     Then  is  that  medycyn  a  souerayn  thynge 
To  preserue  a  man  from  hangynge.  603 

POTYCARY.     If  ye  wyll  taste  but  thys  crome  that  ye  se, 
If  euer  ye  be  hanged,  neuer  truste  me! 

1  M.  his ;  Coll.  this,  without  note. 

~  Coll.  A.  one. 

8  Coll.  So  here,  •without  note,  cf.  1.  594. 

4  In  Coll.  So  is  marked  as  "  addition?  upon  -which  Collier  himself  re~ 
marks  that  his  predecessors  are  mistaken,  as  the  word  is  found  in  both 
the  old  copies  ;  of  course,  it  is  really  1.  591  to  -which  so  -was  added  {in  con- 
sequence of  failure  to  understand  the  construction). 

6  M.  deam  ;  corr.  silently  by  Coll. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  503 

Here  haue  I  diapompholicus, — 

A  speciall  oyntement,  as  doctours  discuse, — 

For  a  fistela  or  a  l  canker  608 

Thys  oyntement  is  euen  shot-anker, 

For  this  medecyn2  helpeth  one  and  other, 

Or  bryngeth  them  in  case  that  they  nede  no  other. 

Here  is  8  syrapus  de  Byzansis,  — 

A  lytell  thynge  is  i-nough  of  this,  613 

For  euen  the  weyght  of  one  scryppull  * 

Shall5  make  you  stronge  as6  a  cryppull. 

Here  be  7  other :  as,  diosfialios, 

Diagalanga,  and  sticados, 

Blanka  manna,  diospoliticon,  618 

Mercury  sublyme,  and  metridaticon, 

Pelitory,8  and  arsefetita, 

Cassy,  and  colloquintita. 

These  be  9  the  thynges  that  breke  all  stryfe 

Betwene  mannes  sycknes  and  his  lyfe  ;  623 

From  all  payne  these  shall  you  deleuer, 

And  set  you  euen  at  reste  for-euer. 

Here  is  a  medecyn  —  no  mo  lyke  the  same!  — 

Whiche  comenly  is  called  thus  by  name  : 

Alikakabus  or  alkakengy,  —  628 

A  goodly  thynge  for  dogges  that  be  10  mangy. 

Suche  be  these  medycynes  that  I  can 

Helpe  a  dogge  as  well  as  a  man. 

Nat  one  thynge  here  partycularly 

But  worketh  vniuersally,  633 

For  it  doth  me  as  muche  good  when  I  sell  it 

As  all  the  byers  that  taste  it  or  smell  it. 

Now,  syns  my  medycyns  be  so  specyall, 

And  in  u  operacion  so  generall, 

1  Coll.  or  for  a,  without  note.  6  Coll.  as  stronge  as,  without  note. 

2  A.  oyntment.  7  Coll.  are,  without  note. 

8  Coll.  is  a,  -without  note.  8  Coll.  Pellitory,  without  note. 

*  Coll.  scryppall.  9  A.  are.  ^  A.  are. 

6  A.  WiL  "  Coll.  in  one,  without  note. 


504  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

And  redy  to  worke  when-so-euer  they  shall,  638 

So  that  in  ryches  I  am  principall, 

If  any  rewarde  may  entreat  ye, 

I  besech  your  mashyp  ]  be  good  to  2  me, 

And  ye  shall  haue  a  boxe  of  marmelade 

So  fyne  that  ye  may  dyg  it  with  a  spade.  643 

PEDLER.     Syr,  I  thanke  you,  but  your  rewarde 
Is  nat  the  thynge  that  I  regarde ; 
I  muste  and  wyll  be  indifferent : 
Wherfore  precede  in  your  intente. 

POTYCARY.     Nowe,  yf  I  wyst  thys  wysh  no  synne,  648 

I  wolde  to  God  I  myght  begynne! 

PARDONER.     I  am  content  that  thou  lye  fyrste. 

PALMER.     Euen  so  am  I ;  and8  say  thy  worste! 
Now  let  vs  here  of  all  thy  lyes 

The  greatest  lye  thou  mayst  deuyse,  653 

And  in  the  few)rst  wordes  thou  can. 

POTYCARY.     Forsoth,  ye  be  4  an  honest  man. 

PALMER.6     There  sayde  ye  muche,  but  yet  no  lye. 

PARDONER.     Now  lye  ye  bothe,  by  Our  Lady! 
Thou  lyest  in  bost  of  hys  honestie,  658 

And  he  hath  lyed  in  affyrmynge  the. 

POTYCARY.     Yf  we  both  lye  and  ye  say  true, 
Then  of  these  lyes  your  parte  adew! 
And  yf  ye  wyn,  make  none  auaunt ; 

For  ye  6  are  sure  of  one  yll  seruauhte.  663 

\To  Palmer]     Ye  6  may  perceyue  by  the  wordes  he  gaue 
He  taketh  your  mashyp  but  for  a  knaue.  — 
But  who  tolde  true 7  or  lyed  in-dede, 
That  wyll  I  knowe  or  8  we  procede  : 

Syr,  after  that  I  fyrste  began  668 

To  prayse  you  for  an  honest  man, 

1  Coll.  masshyp.  8  Coll.  A.  now. 

2  A.  unto.  4  A.  you  are. 

6  Coll.,  followed  by  Haz.,  silently  transfers  this  speech  to  the  Pedler  ;  but 
II.  669-674  confirm  M.  7  Coll.  A.  truthe. 

8  Coll.  you,  -without  note.  8  A.  ere. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  505 

When  ye  affyrmed  it  for  no  lye,  — l 
Now,  by  our  2  fayth,  speke  euen  truely,  = — 
Thought  ye  your  affyrmacion  true? 

PALMER.     Ye,  mary,  I  !  3  for  I  wolde  ye  knewe  673 

I  thynke  my-selfe  an  honest  man. 

POTYCARY.     What  thought  ye  in  the  contrary  than  ? 

PARDONER.     In  that  I  sayde  the  contrary, 
I  thynke  from  trouth  I  dyd  nat  vary. 

POTYCARY.     And  what  of  my  wordes  ? 

PARDONER.  I  thought  ye  lyed.    678 

POTYCARY.     And  so  thought  I,  by  God  that  dyed  ! 
Nowe  haue  you  twayne  eche  for  hym-selfe  layde 
That  none  4  hath  lyed  ou[gh]t 5  but  both  truesayd  ; 
And  of  vs  twayne  none  hath  denyed, 

But  both  affyrmed,  that  I  haue  lyed  :  683 

Now  syns  [ye]  both  your6  trouth  confes, 
And  that  we  both  my  lye  so  witnes 
That  twayne  of  vs  thre  in  one  agree,  — 7 
And  that  the  Iyer  the  wynner  must  be,  — 

Who  coulde  prouyde  suche  euydens  688 

As  I  haue  done  in  this  pretens? 
Me  thynketh  this  mater  sufficient 
To  cause  you  to  gyue  iudgement 
And  to  giue  me  the  mastrye, 
For  ye  perceyue  these  knaues  can  nat  lye.  693 

PALMER.     Though  nother  8  of  vs  as  yet  had  lyed, 
Yet  what  we  can  do  is  vntryed  ; 
For  yet9  we  haue  deuysed  nothynge, 

1  Collier's  note  is  confused,  but  I  infer  that  A.  has  for  to  lye. 

2  Coll.  A.  your;  but  our  is  possible. 

8  Coll.  omits  I,  -without  note.  4  A.  one. 

5  M.  out,  -which  is  silently  omitted  by  Coll. 
«  Coll.  A.  ye  the. 

7  Coll.  A.  (apparently  through  failure  to  follow  the  argument): 

How  that  I  lyed,  doo  bear  witnes. 
That  twain  of  us  may  soon  agree, 

8  ColL  A.  neyther.  »  Coll.  For  as  yet,  -without  note. 


506  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

But  answered  you  and  geuen  1  hyrynge. 

PEDLER.     Therfore  I  haue  deuysed  one  waye  698 

Wherby  all  thre  your  myndes  may  saye  : 
For  eche  of  you  one  tale  shall  tell, 
And  whiche  of  you  telleth  most  meruell 
And  most  vnlyke  2  to  be  true, 
Shall  most  preuayle,  what-euer  ensew.  703 

POTYCARY.     If  ye  be  set  in3  mervalynge, 
Then  shall  ye  here  a  meruaylouse  thynge, 
And  though,  in-dede,  all  be  nat  true, 
Yet  suer  the  most  parte  shall  be  new. 

I  dyd  a  cure  no  lenger  4  a-go  708 

But5  Anno  Domini  millesimo 
On  a  woman  yonge  and  so  fayre 
That  neuer  haue  I  sene  a  gayre. 
God  saue  all  women  from  6  that  lyknes ! 

This  wanton  had  the  fallen-syknes, —  713 

Whiche  by  dissent  came  lynyally, 
For  her  mother  had  it  naturally ; 
Wherfore,  this  woman  to  recure 
It  was  more  harde  ye  may  be  sure. 

But,  though  I  boste  my  crafte  is  suche  718 

That  in  suche  thynges  I  can  do  muche, 
How  ofte  she  fell  were  muche  to  reporte ; 
But  her  hed  so  gydy  and  her  helys  so  shorte 
That,  with  the  twynglynge  of  an  eye, 

Uowne  wolde  she  falle  euyn  by-and-by.  723 

But,  or 7  she  wolde  aryse  agayne, 
I  shewed  muche  practyse  muche  to  my  payne  ; 
For  the  tallest  man  within  this  towne 
Shulde8  nat  with  ease  haue  broken  her  sowne.9 
Ail-though  for  lyfe  I  dyd  nat  doute  her,  728 

Yet  dyd  I  take  more  payne  10  about  her 

1  Coll.  geven  you,  without  note.  6  Coll.  A.  of. 

2  Coll.  A.  unlikest.  ">  A.  ere. 

8  Coll.  on,  -without  note.  8  Coll.  A.  Could. 

4  Coll.  longer,  -without  note.  9  Coll.  swowne,  -without  note. 

8  Coll.  But  in,  -without  note.  10  Coll.  A.  paines. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  5O/ 

Then  I  wolde  take  with  my  owne  syster. 

Syr,  at  the  last  I  gaue  her  a  glyster,  — 

I  thrust  a  tampyon 1  in  her  tewell 

And  bad  her  kepe  it  for  a  iewell.  733 

But  I  knewe  2  it  so  heuy  8  to  cary 

That  I  was  sure4  it  wolde  nat  tary ; 

For  where  gonpouder  is  ones  fyerd 

The  tampyon  6  wyll  no  lenger  be  hyerd,  — 

Whiche  was  well  sene  in  tyme  of  thys  chaunce,  738 

For,  when  I  had  charged  this  ordynaunce, 

Sodeynly  as  it  had  thonderd, 

Euen  at  a  clap  losed  her  bumberd. 

Now  marke,  for  here  begynneth  the  reuell : 

This  tampion  6  flew  x  longe  myle  leuell.  743 

To  a  f ayre  castell  of  lyme  and  stone,  — 

For  strength  I  knowe  nat  suche  a  one,  — 

Whiche  stode  vpon  an7  hyll  full  hye 

At  fote  wherof  a  ryuer  ranne  bye, 

So  depe,  tyll  chaunce  had  it  forbyden,  748 

Well  myght  the  Regent  there  haue  ryden. 

But  when  this  tampyon  8  on  this  castell  lyght,9 

It  put  the  castels 10  so  farre  u  to  flyght 

That  downe  they  came  eche  vpon  other, 

No  stone  lefte  standynge,  by  Goddes  Mother !  753 

But  rolled  downe  so  faste  the  hyll 

In  suche  a  nomber  and  so  dyd  fyll 

From  botom  to  bryme,  from  shore  to  shore, 

Thys  forsayd  ryuer,  so  depe  before, 

That  who  lyste  nowe  to  walke  therto,  758 

May  wade  it  ouer  and  wet  no  shoo. 

So  was  thys  castell  layd  wyde  open 

That  euery  man  myght  se  the  token. 

1  M.  Coll.  thampyon.  7  Coll.  a,  -without  note. 

2  Coll.  inserts  there  from  A.  8  Coll.  thampyon,  -without  note. 

8  Coll.  it  was  to  heevy,  -without  note.    9  Coll.  A.  at  this  castle  did  lyght. 

4  Coll.  sure  was.  10  Coll.  castel,  -without  note. 

5  Coll.  Thampyon,  -without  note.  n  Qy.  read  stones  for  so  farre. 

6  M.  tampton ;  Coll.  thampion,  -without  note. 


5O8  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

But  —  in  a  good  houre  maye  these  wordes  1  be  spoken  !  — 

After  the  tampyon  on  the  walles  was  wroken,  763 

And  pece  by  pece  in  peces  broken, 

And  she  delyuered,  with  suche  violens, 

Of  all  her  inconueniens, 

I  left  her  in  good  helth  and  luste  ; 

And  so  she  doth  contynew,  I  truste!  768 

PEDLER.     Syr,  in  your  cure  I  can  nothynge  tell, 
But  to  our  2  purpose  ye  haue  sayd  well. 

PARDONER.     Well,  syr,  then  marke  what  I  can  say : 
I  haue  ben  a  pardoner  many  a  day, 

And  done  greater  3  cures  gostely  773 

Then  euer  he  dyd  bodely,  — 
Namely  thys  one  whiche  ye  shall  here, 
Of  one  departed  within  thys  seuen  yere,  — 
A  frende  of  myne,  and  lykewyse  I 

To  her  agayne  was  as  frendly,  —  778 

Who  fell  so  syke  so  sodeynly 
That  dede  she  was  euen  by-and-by, 
And  neuer  spake  with  preste  nor  clerke, 
Nor  had  no  whyt  of  thys  holy  warke. 

For  I  was  thens,  it  coulde  nat  be ;  783 

Yet  harde  I  say  she  asked  for  me. 
But  when  I  bethought  me  howe  thys  chaunced, 
And  that  I  haue  to  heuen  auaunced 
So  many  soules  to  me  but  straungers 

And  coude  nat  kepe  my  frende  from  daungers,  788 

But  she  to  dy  so  daungerously, 
For  her  soule  helth  especyally,  — 
That  was  the  thynge  that  greued  me  soo 
That  nothynge  coulde  release  my  woo 

Tyll  I  had  tryed  euen  out  of  hande  793 

In  what  estate  her  soule  dyd  stande ; 
For  whiche  tryall,  shorte  tale  to  make, 

l  //  is  impossible  to  tell  from  the  note  in  Coll.  -whether  A.  has  this  wordes 
or  this  word,  —  apparently  the  former. 

-  Coll.  A.  your.  8  A.  more. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  509 

I  toke  thys  iourney  for  her  sake,  — 

Geue  eare,  for  here  begynneth  the  story,  — 

From  hens  I  went  to  purgatory,  798 

And  toke  with  me  thys  gere  in  my  fyste, 

Wherby  I  may  do  there  what  I  lyste. 

I  knocked  and  was  let  in  quyckly, 

But,  Lorde,  how  lowe  the  soules  made  curtesy! 

And  I  to  euery  soule  agayne  803 

Dyd  gyue  a  beck  them  to  retayne, 

And  axed  them  thys  question  than : 

Yf  that  the  soule  of  suche  a  woman 

Dyd  late  amonge  them  there  appere. 

Wherto  they  sayd  she  came  nat  here.  808 

Then  ferd  I  muche  it  was  nat  well ; 

Alas,  thought  I,  she  is  in  hell! 

For  with  her  lyfe  I  was  so  acqueynted 

That  sure  I  thought  she  was  nat  saynted. 

With  thys  it  chaunced1  me  to  snese ;  813 

"  Christe  helpe  !  "  quoth  a  soule  that  ley  for  his  fees. 

"Those  wordes,"  quoth  I,  "thou  shalt  nat  lees!" 

Then  with  these  pardons  of  all  degrees 

I  payed  hys  tole,  and  set  hym  so  quyght 

That  strayt  to  heuen  he  toke  his  flyght.  818 

And  I  from  thens  to  hell  that  nyght, 

To  help  this  woman  yf  I  myght, 

Nat  as  who  sayth  by  authorite, 

But  by  the  waye  of  entreate. 

And  fyrst  [to]  2  the  deuyll  that  kept  the  gate  823 

I  came,  and  spake  after  this  rate : 

"  All  hayle,  syr  deuyll !  "  and  made  lowe  curtesy. 

"  Welcome !  "  quoth  he  thys  3  smillyngly. 

He  knew  me  well ;  and  I  at  laste 

Remembred  hym  syns  longe  tyme  paste,  828 

For,  as  good  happe  wolde  haue  it  chaunce, 

1  Misprinted  channced  in  M. 

2  Coll.  inserts  to,  without  note. 
8  Coll.  A.  thus. 


5IO  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

Thys  deuyll  and  I  were  of  olde  acqueyntaunce, 

For  oft  in  the  play  of  Corpus  Cristi 

He  had  played  the  deuyll  at  Couentry. 

By  his  acqueyntaunce  and  my  behauoure  833 

He  shewed  to  me  ryght  frendly  fauoure. 

And,  to  make  my  returne  the  shorter, 

I  sayd  to  this  deuyll :  "  Good  mayster  porter, 

For  all  olde  loue,  yf  it  lye  in  your  power, 

Helpe  me  to  speke  with  my  lorde  and  your."  838 

"  Be  sure,"  quoth  he,  "  no  tongue  can  tell 

What  tyme  thou  coudest  haue  come  so  well, 

For  1  thys  daye  Lucyfer  fell,  — 

Whiche  is  our  festyuall  in  hell. 

Nothynge  vnreasonable  craued  thys  day  843 

That  shall  in  hell  haue  any  nay. 

But  yet  be-ware  thou  come  nat  in 

Tyll  tyme  thou  may  2  thy  pasporte  wyn ; 

Wherfore  stande  styll,  and  I  wyll  wyt 

If  I  can  get  thy  saue-condyt."  848 

He  taryed  nat,  but  shortely  gat  it, 

Under  scale  and  the  deuyls  hande  at  it, 

In  ample  wyse,  as  ye  shall  here, — 

Thus  it  began  :  "  Lucyfere, 

By  the  power  of  God  chyefe  deuyll  of  hell,  853 

To  all  the  deuyls  that  there  do  dwell, 

And  euery  of  them,  we  sende  gretynge, 

Under  streyght 3  charge  and  commaundynge, 

That  they  aydynge  and  assystent  be 

To  suche  a  pardoner,  —  and  named  4  me,  —  858 

So  that  he  may  at  lybertie 

Passe  saue  without  hys  5  ieopardy 

Tyll  that  he  be  from  vs  extyncte 

And  clerely  out  of  helles  precincte ; 

And,  hys  pardons  to  kepe  sauegarde,6  863 

l  Coll.  A.  For  as  on.  *  M.  maned,  silently  corr.  by  Coll. 

«  A.  maist.  5  Coll.  A.  any. 

«  M.  streygyt ;  corr.  silently  by  Coll.      «  Coll.  in  savegarde,  -without  note. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  5  I  I 

We  wyll  they  lye  in  the  porters  warde. 

Geuyn  in  the  fornes  of  our  palys, 

In  our  hye  courte  of  maters  of  malys, 

Suche  a  day  and  yere  of  our  reyne." 

"  God  saue  the  deuyll !"  quoth  I,  "  for,  for  playne,1  868 

I  truste  thys  wrytynge  to  be  sure." 

"  Then  put  thy  truste,"  quoth  he,  "  in  euer,2 

Syns  thou  art  sure  to  take  no  harme." 

Thys  deuyll  and  I  walket  arme  in  arme 

So  farre  tyll  he  had  brought  me  thyther  873 

Where  all  the  deuyls  of  hell  togyther 

Stode  in  a-ray  in  suche  apparell 

As  for  that  day  there  metely  fell : 

Theyr  homes  well  gylt,  theyr  clowes  full  clene, 

Theyr  taylles  well  kempt,  and,  as  I  wene,  878 

With  sothery  butter  theyr  bodyes  anoynted,  — 

I  neuer  sawe  deuyls  so  well  appoynted. 

The  mayster  deuyll  sat  in  his  iacket, 

And  all  the  soules  were  playnge  at  racket. 

None  other  rackettes  they  hadde  in  hande  883 

Saue  euery  soule  a  good  fyre-brande ; 

Wherwith  they  played  so  pretely 

That  Lucyfer  laughed  merely, 

And  all  the  resedew  of  the  fendes  3 

Dyd  laugh  full  well  togytther  4  lyke  frendes.  888 

But  of  my  frende  I  sawe  no  whyt, 

Nor  durst  nat  axe  for  her  as  yet. 

Anone  all  this  rout  was  brought  in  silens, 

And  I  by  an  vsher  brought  in  presens. 

Then  to  Lucyfer  low  as  I  coude  5  893 

I  knelyd ;  which  he  so  well  alowde 

1  Coll.  follows  A.  in  reading  quoth  I  amain,  and  gives  reading  of  M.  as 
quoth  I  for  playne. 

2  A.  cure,  possibly  a  misprint  of  eure  (=ure),  but  perhaps  a  substitute 
for  it. 

8  M.  frendes  ;  corr.  by  Coll.,  from  A. 

*  Coll.  A.  thereat  ful  wel. 

6  Coll.  A. :  in  presens  Of  Lucyfer:  then  lowe,  as  well  as  I  could. 


512  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

That  thus  he  beckte  and,  by  Saynt  Antony, 

He  smyled  on  me  well-fauoredly, 

Bendynge  hys  browes,  as  brode  as  barne-durres, 

Shakynge  hys  eares,  as  ruged  as  burres,  898 

Rolynge  hys  yes,  as  rounde  as  two  bushels, 

Flastynge  1  the  fyre  out  of  his  nose-thryls, 

Gnashynge  hys  teeth  so  vaynglorousely 

That  me  thought  tyme  to  fall  to  flatery. 

Wherwith  I  tolde,  as  I  shall  tell :  903 

"  O  plesant  pycture !  O  prince  of  hell, 

Feurred  2  in  fashyon  abominable  ! 

And  syns  that  is  inestimable 

For  me  to  prayse  the  worthyly, 

I  leue  of  prays,  vnworthy3  908 

To  geue  the  prays,  besechynge  the 

To  heare  my  sewte  and  then  to  be 

So  good  to  graunt  the  thynge  I  craue ; 

And,  to  be  shorte,  thys  wolde  I  haue,  — 

The  soule  of  one  whiche  hyther  is  flytted  913 

Deliuered  4  hens  and  to  me  remitted. 

And  in  thys  doynge,  though  al  be  nat  quyt, 

Yet  some  5  parte  I  shall 6  deserue  it ; 

As  thus,  —  I  am  a  pardoner 

And  ouer  soules  as  a  controller,  918 

Thorough-out  the  erth  my  power  doth  stande, 

Where  many  a  soule  lyeth  on  my  hande, 

That  spede  in  maters  as  I  vse  them, 

As  I  receyue  them  or  refuse  them ; 

Wherby,  what  tyme  thy  pleasure  is,  923 

Ye  shall  requyre7  any  part  of  thys, — 

The  leste  deuyll  here  that  can  come  thyther 

1  Qy.  Fnastynge,  or  Flashynge.  *  A.  Deliver. 

2  Coll.  Feutred,  without  note.  5  Coll.  Yet  in  some,  -without  note. 
8  Coll.  as  unworthy,  ivithoitt  note.  6  A.  wil. 

7  M.  I  shall  requyre;  Coll.,  I  shall  requyte,  -with  a  note  implying  that  his 
text  contains  Ye,  but  that  he  himself  prefers  1.  He  has  no  textual  note  on 
requyte.  Any  part  of  this  seems  to  support  my  emendation  rather  than 
Collier's. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  513 

Shall  chose  a  soule  and  brynge  hym  hyther." 

"  Nowe,"1  quoth  the  deuyll,  "we  are  well  pleased. 

What  is  hys  name  thou  woldest  haue  eased?"  928 

"  Nay,"  quoth  I,  "  be  it  good  or  euyll, 

My  comynge  is  for  a  she-deuyll." 

"  What  calste  her?  "  quoth  he,  "  thou  horson  !  "  * 

"  Forsoth,"  quoth  I,  "  Margery  Coorson." 

"  Now,  by  our  honour,"  sayd  Lucyfer,  933 

"  No  deuyll  in  hell  shall  witholde  her; 

And  yf  thou  woldest  haue  twenty  mo, 

Were  3  nat  for  iustyce,  they  shulde  goo, 

For  all  we4  deuyls  within  thys  den 

Haue  more  to  do  with  two  women  938 

Then  with  all  the  charge  we  haue  besyde. 

Wherfore,  yf  thou  our  frende  wyll  be  tryed, 

Aply  thy  pardons  to  women  so 

That  vnto  vs  there  come  no  mo." 

To  do  my  beste  I  promysed  by  othe  ;  943 

Whiche  I  haue  kepte,  for,  as  the  fayth  goth, 

At  these  dayes  5  to  heuen  I  do  procure 

Ten  women  to  one  man,  be  sure. 

Then  of  Lucyfer  my  leue  I  toke, 

And  streyght  vnto  the  mayster  coke  ;  948 

I  was  hadde  into  the  kechyn, 

For  Margaryes  6  offyce  was  ther-in. 

All  thynge 7  handled  there,  discretely,  — 

For  euery  soule  bereth  offyce  metely,  — 

Whiche  8  myght  be  sene  to  se  her  syt,  953 

So  bysely  turnynge  of  the  spyt ; 

For  many  a  spyt  here  hath  she  turned, 

And  many  a  good  spyt  hath  she  burned, 

And  many  a  spyt  full  hot9  hath  tested10 

1  Coll.  A.  Ho,  ho.  6  Coll.  Margerie's,  -without  note. 

2  M.  horyson ;  Coll.  A.  whoorson.          7  Coll.  thyngs,  without  note. 

8  Coll.  Wert,  -without  note.  8  Mis-printed  woiche  in  Coll. 

*  A.  the.  9  M.  Coll.  hoth. 

5  M.  thys  dayes ;  Coll.  A.  this  day.       10  Coll.  rested,  -without  note. 


514  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

Before  the  meat  coulde  be  halfe  rested ;  958 

And,  or  l  the  meate  were  halfe  rested  in-dede, 

I  toke  her  then  fro  the  spyt  for2  spede. 

But  when  she  sawe  thys  brought  to  pas, 

To  tell  the  ioy  wherin  she  was, 

And  of  all  the  deuyls,  for  ioy  how  they  963 

Dyd  rore  at  her  delyuery, 

And  how  the  cheynes  in  hell  dyd  rynge, 

And  how  all  the  soules  therin  dyd  synge, 

And  how  we  were  brought  to  the  gate, 

And  how  we  toke  our  leue  therat,  —  968 

Be  suer  lacke  of  tyme  sufferyth  nat 

To  reherse  the  xx  parte  of  that ; 

Wherfore,  thys  tale  to  conclude  breuely, 

Thys  woman  thanked  me  chyefly 

That  she  was  ryd  of  thys  endles  deth  ;  973 

And  so  we  departed  on  New-Market  Heth. 

And  yf  that  any  man  do  mynde  her, 

Who  lyste  to  seke  her  there  shall  he  fynde  her! 

PEDLER.     Syr,  ye  haue  sought  her  wonders8  well, 
And,  where  ye  founde  her,  as  ye  tell,  978 

To  here  the  chaunce  ye  founde  *  in  hell, 
I  fynde  ye  were  in  great  parell.6 

PALMER.     His  tale  is  all  muche  parellous,6 
But  parte  is  muche  more  meruaylous ; 

As  where  he  sayde  the  deuyls  complayne  983 

That  women  put  them  to  suche  payne 
By 7  theyr  condicions  so  croked  and  crabbed, 
Frowardly  fashonde,  so  waywarde  and  wrabbed,8 
So  farre  in  deuision,  and  sturrynge  suche  stryfe, 
That  all  the  deuyls  be  wery  of  theyr  lyfe.  988 

1  A.  ere.  *  Coll.  A.  had. 

2  Coll.  with,  -without  note.  «  Coll.  A.  peril. 

8  Coll.  A.  wunderous.  6  Coll.  A.  perilous. 

7  Coll.  Be,  -without  note,  though  he  entirely  changes  the  construction  of 
the  passage. 

8  There  is  no  occasion  to  correct  the  spelling  to  rabid. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  515 

This ]  in  effect  he  tolde  for  2  trueth  ; 

Wherby  muche  maruell  3  to  me  ensueth, 

That  women  in  hell  suche  shrewes  can  be 

And  here  so  gentyll,  as  farre  as  I  se. 

Yet  haue  I  sene  many  a  myle  .    993 

And  many  a  woman  in  the  whyle,  — 

Nat  one  good  cytye,  towne,  nor  borough 

In  Cristendom  but  I  haue  ben  th[o] rough, — 

And  this  I  wolde  ye  shulde  vnderstande : 

I  haue  sene  women  v  hundred  thousande  998 

And  oft  with  them  haue  longe  tyme  taryed,4 

Yet  in  all  places  where  I  haue  ben, 

Of  all  the  women  that  I  haue  sene, 

I  neuer  sawe  nor  knewe,  in  my  consyens,  1003 

Any  one  woman  out  of  paciens. 

POTYCARY.     By  the  masse,  there  is  a  great  lye ! 5 

PARDONER.     I  neuer  harde  a  greater,  by  Our  Lady! 

PEDLER.     A  greater?  nay,  knowe  ye  any  so  great? 

PALMER.     Syr,  whether  that  I  lose  or  get,  1008 

For  my  parte  iudgement  shall  be  prayed. 

PARDONER.     And  I  desyer  as  he  hath  sayd. 

POTYCARY.     Precede,  and  ye  shall  be  obeyed. 

PEDLER.     Then  shall  nat  iudgement  be  delayd : 
Of  all  these  thre,  yf  eche  mannes  tale  1013 

In  Poules6  Churche-yarde  were  set  on  sale 
In  some  mannes  hande  that  hath  the  sleyghte, 
He  shulde  sure  sell  these  tales  by  weyght ; 
For,  as  they  wey,  so  be  they  worth. 

But  whiche  weyth  beste,  —  to  that  now  forth!  1018 

Syr,  all  the  tale  that  ye  dyd  tell 
I  bere  in  mynde  ;  and  yours  as  well ; 

l  A.  thus.  2  A.  of. 

8  Misprinted  muruell  in  M. 

4  M.  maryed  (or  matyed) ;  Coll.  A.  taried  ;  a  line  has,  as  Collier  suggests, 
probably  been  lost,  —  perhaps:   Wives  and  widows,  maids  and  married. 

5  M.  greatlye,  corr.  silently  by  Coll.  6  Coll.  Poole's,  without  note. 


5l6  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

And,  as  ye  sawe  the  mater  metely, 

So  lyed  ye  bothe  well  and  discretely. 

Yet  were  your  lyes  with  the  lest,  truste  me;  1023 

[To  Potycary]      For,  yf  ye  had  sayd  ye  had  made  fle 

Ten  tampyons  out  of  ten  womens  tayles 

Ten  tymes  ten  myle  to  ten  castels  or  iayles1 

And  fyll 2  ten  ryuers  ten  tymes  so  depe 

As  ten  of  that  whiche  your  castell  stones  dyde  kepe,3 —          1028 

[To  Pardoner}      Or  yf  ye  ten  tymes  had  bodely 

Fet  ten  soules  out  of  purgatory, 

And  ten  tymes  so  many  out  of  hell,  — 

Yet,  by  these  ten  bonnes,  I  could  ryght  well 

Ten  tymes  sonner  all  that  haue  beleued  1033 

Then  the  tenth  parte  of  that  he  hath  meued. 

POTYCARY.     Two  knaues  before   i    lacketh    ii  knaues  of 

fyue; 

Theri  one,  and  then  one,  and  bothe  knaues  a-lyue ; 
Then  two,  and  then  two,  and  thre  at  a  cast ; 
Thou  knaue,  and  thou  knaue,  and  thou  knaue,  at  laste!  1038 

Nay,  knaue,  yf  ye  try  me  by  nomber, 
I  wyll  as  knauyshly  you  accomber. 
Your  rnynde  is  all  on  your  pryuy  tythe, 
For  all  in  ten  me  thynketh  your  wit  lythe. 

Now  ten  tymes  I  beseche  Hym  that  hye  syttes  1043 

Thy  wyfes  x  C07/zmau«dementes  may  serch  thy  v  wittes ; 
Then  ten  of  my  tordes  in  ten  of  thy  teth, 
And  ten  of  4  thy  nose,  whiche  euery  man  seth, 
And  twenty  tymes  ten  this  wyshe  I  wolde,  — 
That  thou  haddest  ben  hanged  at  ten  yere  olde,  1048 

For  thou  goest  about  to  make  me  a.slaue,  — 
I  wyll  thou  knowe  yf  I  am  a  gentylman,5  knaue! 
And  here  is  an  other  shall  take  my  parte. 

PARDONER.     Nay,  fyrste  I  be-shrew  your  knaues  herte 
Or  I  take  parte  in  your  knauery!  i°53' 

1  M.  tayles  ;  Coll.  jayles,  •without  note.  *  Coll.  on,  without  note. 

2  Coll.  fild,  without  note.  5  A.  gentle. 
8  These  two  words  are  cut  off  at  the  top. 


THE    FOURE    PP. 

I  wyll  speke  fayre,  by  Our1  Lady! 
Syr,  I  beseche  your  mashyp  to  be 
As  good  as  ye  can  2  be  to  me. 

PEDLER.     I  wolde  be  glade  to  do  you  good 

And  hym  also,  be  he  neuer  so  wood ;  1058 

But  dout  you  nat  I  wyll  now  do 
The  thynge  my  consciens  ledeth  me  to. 
Both  your  tales  I  take  farre  impossyble  8 
Yet  take  I  his  f  a[r]ther  4  incredyble. 

Nat  only  the  thynge  it-self e  alloweth  it,  1063 

But  also  the  boldenes  therof  auoweth  it, 
I  knowe  nat  where  your  tale  to  trye,5 
Nor  yours  but  in  hell  or  purgatorye  ; 
But  hys  boldnes  hath  faced  a  lye 

That  may  be  tryed  euyn  in  thys  companye:  1068 

As,  yf  ye  lyste,  to  take  thys  order,  — 
Amonge  the  women  in  thys  border, 
Take  thre  of  the  yongest  and  thre  of  the  oldest, 
Thre  of  the  hotest  and  thre  of  the  coldest, 

Thre  of  the  wysest  and  thre  of  the  shrewdest,  1073 

Thre  of  the  chastest  and  thre  of  the  lewdest,  6 
Thre  of  the  lowest  and  thre  of  the  hyest, 
Thre  of  the  farthest  and  thre  of  the  nyest, 
Thre  of  the  fayrest  and  thre  of  the  maddest, 

Thre  of  the  fowlest  and  thre  of  the  saddest,  —  1078 

And  when  all  these  threes  be  had  a-sonder, 
Of  eche  thre  two  iustly  by  nomber 
Shall  be  founde  shrewes,  excepte  thys  fall, 
That  ye  hap  to  fynde  them  shrewes  all. 

Hym-selfe  for  trouth  all  this  doth  knowe,  1083 

And  oft  hath  tryed  some  of  thys  rowe ; 
And  yet  he  swereth  by  his  consciens 
He  neuer  saw  woman  breke  paciens.7 

1  ColL  A. ;  M.  one..  6  M.  crye  ;  corr.  silently  by  Coll. 

2  A.  you  may.  6  This  line  supp.  by  Coll.  from  A. 

3  Coll.  unpossyble,  without  note.  7  Coll.  patiens,  -without  note. 
*  Corr.  by  Coll.,  without  note. 


$l8  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

Wherfore,  consydered  with  true  entente 

Hys  lye  to  be  so  euident,  1 088 

And  to  appere  so  euydently 

That  both  you  affyrmed  it  a  ly, 

And  that  my  consciens  so  depely 

So  depe  hath  sought  thys  thynge  to  try, 

And  tryed  it  with  mynde  indyfferent,  !O93 

Thus  I  awarde,  by  way  of  iudgement, 

Of  all  the  lyes  ye  all  haue  spent 

Hys  lye  to  be  most  excellent. 

PALMER.     Syr,  though  ye l  were  bounde  of  equyte 
To  do  as  ye  haue  done  to  me,  1098 

Yet  do  I  thanke  you  of  your  payne, 
And  wyll  requyte  some  parte  agayne. 

PARDONER.     Mary,  syr,  ye  can  no  les  do 
But  thanke  hym  as  muche  as  it  cometh  to ; 

And  so  wyll  I  do  for  my  parte :  1103 

Now  a  vengeaunce  on  thy  knaues  harte! 
I  neuer  knewe  pedler  a  iudge  before 
Nor  neuer  wyll  truste  pedlynge-knaue  more ! 

\He  sees  the  Potycary  curtesying  about  the  Palmer.'] 

What  doest  thou  there,  thou  horson  nody? 

POTYCARY.     By  the  masse,  lerne  to  make  curtesy !  1108 

Curtesy  before,  and  curtesy  behynde  hym, 
And  then  on  eche  syde,  the  deuyll  blynde  hym! 
Nay,  when  I  2  haue  it  perfytly, 
Ye  shall  haue  the  deuyll  and  all  of  curtesy ! 

But  it  is  nat  sone  lerned,  brother,3  1113 

One  knaue  to  make  curtesy  to  another ; 
Yet,  when  I  am  angry,  that  is  the  worste, 
I  shall  call  my  mayster  knaue  at  the  fyrste. 

PALMER.     Then  wolde  some  mayster  perhappes  clowt  ye, 
But  as  for  me  ye  nede  nat  doute  ye  ;  1 1 1 8 

For  I  had  leuer  4  be  without  ye 

1  M.  we ;  corr.  silently  by  Coll.  3  Coll.  A.  gentle  brother. 

2  Coll.  A.  ye.  *  A.  rather. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  519 

Then  haue  suche  besynesse  aboute  ye. 

PARDONER.     So  helpe  me  God,  so  were  ye  better! 
What  shulde  a  begger  be  a  letter? 

It  were  no  whyt  your  honestie  1123 

To  haue  vs  twayne  iet  after  ye. 

POTYCARY.     Syr,  be  ye  sure  he  telleth  you  true ; 
Yf  we  shulde  wayte,  thys  wolde  ensew : 
It  wolde  be  sayd,  truste  me  at  a  worde, 
Two  knaues  made1  curtesy  to  a2  thyrde.  1128 

PEDLER.     Now,  by  my  trouth,  to  speke  my  mynde,  — 
Syns,  they  be  so  loth  to  be  assyned,3 
To  let  them  lose  I  thynke  it  beste, 
And  so  shall  ye  lyue  beste  4  in  rest. 

PALMER.     Syr,  I  am  nat  on  them  so  fonde  II33 

To  compell  them  to  kepe  theyr  bonde ; 
And,  syns  ye  lyste  nat  to  wayte  on  me, 
I  clerely  of  waytynge  dyscharge  ye. 

PARDONER.     Mary,  syr,  I  hertely  thanke  you. 

POTYCARY.     And  I  lyke-wyse,  I  make  God  auowe.6  1138 

PEDLER.     Now  be  ye  all  euyn  as  ye  begoon  ; 
No  man  hath  loste  nor  no  man  hath  woon. 
Yet  in  the  debate  wherwith  ye  began, 
By  waye  of  aduyse  I  wyll  speke  as  I  can : 

[To  Palmer}      I  do  perceyue  that  pylgrymage  1143 

Is  chyefe  6  the  thynge  ye  haue  in  vsage ; 
Wherto,  in  effecte,  for  loue  of  Chryst 
Ye  haue,  or  shulde  haue,  bene  entyst ; 
And  who  so  doth  with  suche  entent, 

Doth  well  declare  hys  tyme  well  spent;  1148 

[To  Pardoner]     And  so  do  ye  in  your  pretence, 
If  ye  procure  thus  7  indulgence 
Unto  your  neyghbours  charytably 
For  loue  of  them  in  God  onely.  — 

1  A.  make.  2  Coll.  the,  -without  note. 

3  Steevens  suggests  affyned,  but,  as  Collier  faints  out,  assyned  is  correct. 

4  Coll.  A.  the  better.  6  A.  cheefast. 

5  ColL  A.  And  likewise  I,  to  God  I  vow.       "  A.  this. 


52O  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

All  thys  may  be  ryght  well  applyed  1153 

To  shew 1  you  both  well  occupyed : 

For,  though  ye  walke  nat  bothe  one  waye, 

Yet,  walkynge  thus,  thys  dare  I  saye : 

That  bothe  your  walkes  come  to  one  2  ende. 

And  so  for  all  that  do  pretende,  1158 

By  ayde  of  Goddes  grace,  to  ensewe 

Any  maner  kynde  of  vertue  : 

As,  some  great  almyse  for  to  gyue, 

Some  in  wyllfull  pouertie  to  lyue, 

Some  to  make  hye-wayes  and  suche  other3  warkes,  1163 

And  some  to  mayntayne  prestes  and  clarkes 

To  synge  and  praye  for  soule[s]  departed,  — 

These,  with  all  other  vertues  well  marked, 

Ail-though  they  be  of  sondry  kyndes, 

Yet  be  they  nat  vsed  with  sondry  myndes ;  1 1 68 

But,  as  God  only  doth  all  those  moue, 

So  euery  man,  onely  for  his  loue, 

With  loue  and  dred  obediently 

Worketh  in  these  vertues  vnyformely. 

Thus  euery  vertue,  yf  we  lyste  to  scan,  1 1 73 

Is  pleasaunt  to  God  and  thankfull  to  man ; 

And  who  that  by  grace  of  the  Holy  Goste 

To  any  one  vertue  is  moued  moste,  — 

That  man,  by  that  grace,  that  one  apply, 

And  therin  serue  God  most  plentyfully  !  4  1 178 

Yet  nat  that  one  so  farre  wyde  to  wreste, 

So  lykynge  the  same  to  myslyke  the  reste  ; 

For  who  so  wresteth  hys  worke  is  in  vayne. 

And  euen  in  that  case  I  perceyue  you  twayne,  — 

Lykynge  your  vertue  in  suche  wyse  1183 

That  eche  others  vertue  you  do  dyspyse. 

Who  walketh  thys  way  for  God  wolde  fynde  hym, 

The  farther  they  seke  hym,  the  farther  behynde  hym. 

One  kynde  of  vertue  to  dyspyse  another 

1  M.  shewell ;  corr.  by  Coll.  from  A.  8  Coll.  A.  lyke. 

2  A.  on.  4  A.  plenteously. 


THE    FOURE    PP.  $21 

Is  lyke  as  the  syster  myght  hange  the  brother.  1188 

POTVCARY.      For  fere   lest   suche  parels  to  me  myght 

fall, 
I  thanke  God  I  vse  no  vertue  at  all ! 

PEDLER.     That  is  of  all  the  very  worste  waye ; 
For  more  harde  it  is,  as  I  haue  harde  saye, 

To  begynne  vertue  where  none  is  pretendyd  1 193 

Then,  where  it  is  begonne,  the  abuse  to  be  mended. 
How-be-it,  ye  be  l  nat  all  to  begynne  ; 
One  syne  of  vertue  ye  are  entred  in : 
As  thys,  I  suppose  ye  dyd  saye  true, 

In  that  ye  sayd  ye  vse  no  vertue  ;  1 198 

In  the  whiche  wordes  I  dare  well  reporte, 
Ye  are  well  be-loued  2  of  all  thys  sorte, 
By  your  raylynge  here  openly 
At  pardons  and  relyques  so  leudly. 

POTYCARY.     In  that  I  thynke  my  faute  nat  great,  1203 

For  all  that  he  hath  I  knowe  conterfete.  8 

PEDLER.     For  his  and  all  other  that  ye  knowe  fayned 
Ye  be  nother  4  counceled  nor  constrayned 
To  any  suche  thynge  in  any  suche  case 

To  gyue  any  reuerence  in  any  suche  place  ;  1 208 

But  where  ye  dout  the  truthe,  nat  knowynge, 
Beleuynge  the  beste,  good  may  be  growynge, — 
In  iudgynge  the  beste,  no  harme  at  the  leste, 
In  iudgynge  the  worste,  no  good  at  the  beste. 
But  beste  in  these  thynges  it  semeth  to  me  1213 

To  take  6  no  iudgement  vpon  ye ; 
But,  as  the  Churche  doth  iudge  or  take  them, 
So  do  ye  receyue  or  forsake  them ; 
And  so,  be  sure,6  ye  can  nat  erre, 
But  may  be  a  frutfull  folower.  1218 

POTYCARY.     Go  ye  before  and,  as  I  am  true  man, 
I  wyll  folow  as  faste  as  I  can. 

1  A.  are.  4  Coll.  A.  not. 

2  Kittredge  suggests  beleued.         5  M.  Coll.  make. 

8  Coll.  counterfete,  without  note.   6  Coll.  be  you  sure,  without  note. 


522  JOHN    HEYWOOD. 

PARDONER.     And  so  wyll  I,  for  he  hath  sayd  so  well, 
Reason1  wolde  we  shulde  folowe  hys  counsell.  1222 

PALMER.     Then  to  our  reason  God  gyue  vs  his  grace, 
That  we  may  folowe  with  fayth  so  fermely 

His  commaundementes,  that  we  may  purchace 
Hys  loue,  and  so  consequently 
To  byleue  hys  Churche  faste  and  faythfully ; 

So  that  we  may,  accordynge  to  his  promyse, 

Be  kepte  out  of  errour  in  any  wyse.  1229 

And  all  that  hath  scapet  2  vs  here  by  neglygence, 

We  clerely  reuoke  and  forsake  it. 
To  passe  the  tyme  in  thys  without  offence, 

Was  the  cause  why  the  maker  dyd  make  it; 

And  so  we  humbly  beseche  you  take  8  it; 
Besechynge  Our  Lorde  to  prosper  you  all 
In  the  fayth  of  hys  Churche  Vniuersall  !  1236 

1  Smudged  over  in  M.  2  A.  escapte.  8  Coll.  you  to  take. 

FINIS. 

Imprynted  at  London  in  Fletestrete  at  the 

sygne  of  the  George  by  Wyllyam 

Myddylton.-. 


PART   VI. 


KYNGE   JOHAN. 

BY  JOHN  BALE. 


Printed  from  the  edition. by  J.  P.  Collier  (Camden  Society,  1838).  Punctua- 
tion, capitals,  and  arrangement  of  lines  are,  as  usual,  mine  ;  all  other  changes  are 
indicated  in  the  footnotes.  The  statements  in  regard  to  the  readings  of  the  MS. 
are,  of  course,  derived  from  Collier's  introduction  and  notes.  Several  additions 
to  the  play  in  Bale's  own  hand  are  pointed  out  as  they  occur,  but  it  must  be 
added  that  he  seems  to  have  corrected  the  whole  play,  cf.  p.  530,  n.  i.  For  an 
account  of  the  play,  see  vol.  III.  of  this  book. 


\Dramatis  Personae, 

KYNGE  JOHAN.  PRYVAT  WELTH. 

YNGLOND.  DISSIMULACYON. 

CLARGY.  RAYMUNDUS. 

SEDYCYON.  SYMON  OF  SWYNSETT. 

CYVYLE  ORDER.  USURPYD  POWER. 

STEVYN  LANGTON.  THE  POPE. 

COMMYNALTE.  INTERPRETOUR. 

NOBYLYTE.  TREASON. 

CARDYNAH,  PANDULPHUS.  VERYTE. 
IMPERYALL  MAJESTYE.] 

[Enter  Kynge  Johan  alone.] 

K.  JOHAN. 1  To  declare  the  powres  and  their  force  to 
enlarge, 

The  Scripture  of  God  doth  flow  in  most  abowndaunce ; 
And  of  sophysters  'the  cauteles  to  dyscharge, 

Bothe  Peter  and  Pawle  makyth  plenteosse  utterauns ; 

How  that  all  pepell  shuld  shew  there  trew  alegyauns 

1 1  have  not  followed  C.  in  the  abbreviation  of  the  names  of  speakers. 


526  JOHN    BALE. 

To  ther  lawfull  kyng,  Christ  Jesu  dothe  consent, 

Whych  to  the  hygh  powres  was  ever  obedyent  7 

To  shew  what  I  am,  I  thynke  yt  convenyent : 

Johan,  Kyng  of  Ynglond,  the  cronyclys  doth  me  call. 

My  granfather  was  an  emp[er]owr  excelent, 
My  father  a  kyng  by  successyon  lyneall, 
A  kyng  my  brother,  lyke  as  to  hym  ded  fall, 

Rychard  Curdelyon  they  callyd  hym  in  Fraunce, 

Whych  had  over  enymyes  most  fortynable  chaunce.  14 

By  the  wyll  of  God  and  his  hygh  ordynaunce, 

In  Yerlond  and  Walys,  in  Angoye  and  Normandye, 

In  Ynglond  also,  I  have  had  the  governaunce ; 

I  have  worne  the  crowne  and  wrowght  vyctoryouslye, 
And  now  do  purpose  by  practyse  and  by  stodye 

To  reforme  the  lawes  and  sett  men  in  good  order, 

That  trew  justyce  may  be  had  in  every  border.  21 

[Enter]  Ynglond  vidua. 

[YNGL.]     Than   I   trust  yowr  Grace   wyll  waye  a  poore 

wedowes  cause, 
Ungodly  usyd,  as  ye  shall  know  in  short  clause. 

K.  JOHAN.     Yea,  that  I  wyll  swere,  yf  yt  be  trew  and  just. 

YNGL.     Lyke  as  yt  beryth  trewth,  so  lett  yt  be  dyscust.          25 

K.  JOHAN.      Than,   gentyll    wydowe,    tell    me   what    the 
mater  ys. 

YNGL.     Alas,  yowr  clargy  hath  done  very  sore  amys 
In  mysusyng  me  ageynst  all  ryght  and  justyce, 
And  for  my  more  greffe  therto  they  other  intyce. 

K.  JOHAN.     Whom  do  they  intyce  for  to  do  the  injurye?        30 

YNGL.     Soch  as  hath  enterd  by  false  hypocrysye, 
Moch  worse  frutes  havyng  than  hathe  the  thornes  unplesaunt, 
For  they  are  the  trees  that  God  dyd  never  plant, 
And,  as  Christ  dothe  saye,  blynd  leaders  of  the  blynd. 

K.  JOHAN.     Tell  me  whom  thou  menyst,  to  satysfy  my 

mynd.  35 


KYNGE    JOHAN. 

YNGL.     Suche  lubbers   as    hath  dysgysed  heads  in  their 

hoodes, 

Whych  in  ydelnes  do  lyve  by  other  menns  goodes,  — 
Monkes,  chanons  and  nones,  in  dyvers  coloure  and  shappe, 
Bothe  whyght,  blacke  and  pyed,  God  send  ther  increase  yll 

happe ! 
K.  JOHAN.     Lete  me  know  thy  name  or  I  go  ferther  with 

the.  40 

YNGL.    Ynglond,  syr,  Ynglond  my  name  is  ;  ye  may  trust  me. 
K.   JOHAN.      I    mervell   ryght   sore   how  thow   commyst 
chaungyd  thus. 

[Enter]  Sedwsyon. 

[SED.]  What,  yow  ij  alone  ?  I  wyll  tell  tales,  by  Jesus! 
And  saye  that  I  se  yow  fall  here  to  bycherye. 

K.  JOHAN.     Avoyd,  lewde  person,  for  thy  wordes  are  un- 

godlye.  45 

SED.     I  crye  you  mercy,  sur,  pray  yow  be  not  angrye ; 
Be  me  fayth  and  trowth,  I  came  hyther  to  be  merye. 

K.    JOHAN.      Thou   canst   with    thy    myrth    in    no   wysse 

dyscontent  me, 
So  that  thow  powder  yt  with  wysdome  and  honeste. 

SED.     I  am  no  spycer,  by  the  messe!  ye  may  beleve  me.        50 

K.  JOHAN.     I  speke  of  no  spyce,  but  of  cyvyle  honeste. 

SED.     Ye  spake  of  powder,  by  the  Holy  Trynyte! 

K.  JOHAN.  Not  as  thow  takyst  yt,  of  a  grosse  capasyte, 
But  as  Seynt  Pawle  meanyth  unto  the  Collossyans1  playne : 
"  So  seasyne  yowr  speche,  that  yt  be  withowt  disdayne."  55 

Now,  Ynglond,  to  the :  go  thow  forth  with  thy  tale, 
And  showe  the  cawse  why  thow  lokyst  so  wan  and  pale. 

YNGL.     I  told  yow  before  the  faulte  was  in  the  clergye 
That  I,  a  wedow,  apere  to  yow  so  barelye. 

SED.     Ye  are  a  Wylly  Wat,  and  wander  here  full  warelye !     60 

K.  JOHAN.     Why  in  the  clargye?  do  me  to  understande! 

YNGL.     For  they  take  from  me  my  cattell,  howse  and  land, 
My  wods  and  pasturs,  with  other  commodyteys, 

1  C.  Collessyans. 


528  JOHN    BALE. 

Lyke  as  Christ  ded  saye  to  the  wyckyd  Pharyseys : 

"  Pore  wydowys  howsys  ye  grosse  up  by  long  prayers," —          65 

In  syde  cotys  wandryng  lyke  most  dysgysed  players. 

SED.     They  are  well  at  ese  that  hath  soch  soth-sayers ! 

K.  JOHAN.     They  are  thy  chylderne,  thou  owghtest  to  say 
then1  good. 

YNGL.     Nay,  bastardes  they  are,  unnaturall,  by  the  rood! 
Sens  ther  begynnyng  they  ware  never  good  to  me.  70 

The  wyld  bore  of  Rome,  —  God  let  hym  never  to  thee !  — 
Lyke  pygges  they  folow  in  fantysyes,  dreames  and  lyes, 
And  ever  are  fed  with  hys  vyle  cerymonyes. 

SED.     Nay,  sumtyme  they  eate  bothe  flawnes  and  pygyn- 
pyes. 

K.  JOHAN.     By  the  bore  of  Rome,  I  trow,  thou  menyst 

the  Pope.  75 

YNGL.     I  mene  non  other  but  hym,  God  geve  hym  a  rope ! 

K.  JOHAN.     And  why  dost  thow  thus  compare  hym  to  a 


swyne 


YNGL.  For  that  he  and  hys  to  such  bestlynes  inclyne  ; 
They  forsake  Gods  word,  whych  is  most  puer  and  cleane, 
And  unto  the  lawys  of  synfull  men  they  leane ;  80 

Lyke  as  the  vyle  swyne  the  most  vyle  metes  dessyer 
And  hath  gret  plesure  to  walowe  them-selvys  in  myre, 
So  hath  this  wyld  bore  with  his  Church  Unyversall, 
His  sowe  with  hyr  pygys;  and  monstres  2  bestyall, 
Dylyght  in  mennys  draffe  and  covytus  lucre  all ;  85 

Yea,  aper  de  sylva  the  prophet  dyd  hym  call. 

SED.     Hold  yowr  peace,  ye  whore,  or  ellys,  by  masse,  I 

trowe, 
I  shall  cawse  the  Pope  to  curse  the  as  blacke  as  a  crowe. 

K.  JOHAN.     What  art  thow,  felow,  that  seme  so  braggyng 
bolde? 

SED.     I  am  Sedycyon,  that  with  the  Pope  wyll  hold  90 

So  long  as  I  have  .a  hole  within  my  breche. 

YNGL.     Command  this  felow  to  avoyd,  I  you  beseche, 
For  dowghtles  he  hath  done  me  great  injury. 

1  Qy.  them.  2  C.  monstros. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  529 

K.  JOHAN.     A-voyd,  lewd  felow,  or  thou  shalt   rewe   yt 

truly ! 

SED.     I  wyll  not  a-waye  for  that  same  wedred  wytche  ;  95 

She  shall  rather  kysse  where-as  it  doth  not  ytche. 
Quodcunque  ligaveris,  I  trow,  wyll  playe  soch  a  parte, 
That  I  shall  abyde  in  Ynglond,  magry  yowr  harte. 
Tushe,   the    Pope   ableth    me    to  subdewe  bothe  kyng  and 

keyser. 
K.  JOHAN.     Off  that  thow  and  I  wyll  common  more  at 

leyser.  i  oo 

YNGL.     Trwly  of  the  devyll  they  are  that  do  ony  thyng 
To  the  subdewyng  of  any  Christen  kyng ; 
For,  be  he  good  or  bade,  he  is  of  Codes  apoyntyng ; 
The  good  for  the  good,  the  badde  ys  for  yll  doyng. 

K.  JOHAN.     Of  that  we  shall  talke  here-after:  say  forth 

thy  mynd  now,  105 

And  show  me  how  thou  art  thus  be-cum  a  wedowe. 

YNGL.     Thes  vyle  popych  swyne  hath  clene   exyled  my 

hosband. 
K.  JOHAN.     Who  ys  thy  husbond?  Tel  me,1  good  gentyll 

Ynglond. 

YNGL.     For  soth,  God  hym-selfe,  the  spowse  of  every  sort 
That  seke  hym  in  f ayth  to  the  sowlys  helth  and  comfort.  1 1  o 

SED.     He  is  scant  honest  that  so  many  wyfes  wyll  have. 
K.  JOHAN.     I  saye,  hold  yowr  peace,  and  stand  asyde  lyke 

a  knave ! 
Ys  God  exylyd  owt  of  this  regyon?     Tell  me. 

YNGL.     Yea,  that  he  is,  ser,  yt  is  the  much  more  pete. 

K.  JOHAN.     How   commyth  yt   to  passe  that  he  is  thus 

abusyd  ?  115 

YNGL.     Ye  know  he  abydyth  not  where  his  word  ys  re- 

f  usyd ; 

For  God  is  his  word,  lyke  as  Seynt  John  dothe  tell 
In  the  begynnyng  of  his  moste  blyssyd  gospell. 
The  Popys  pyggys  may  not  abyd  this  word  to  be  hard, 
Nor  knowyn  of  pepyll,  or  had  in  anye  regard  :  1 20 

1 C.  telme. 


53°  JOHN    BALE. 

Ther  eyes  are  so  sore  they  may  not  abyd  the  lyght, 

And  that  bred  so  hard  ther  gald  gummes  may  yt  not  byght. 

I,  knowyng  yowr  Grace  to  have  here  the  governance 

By  the  gyft  of  God,  do  knowlege  my  allegeance, 

Desyeryng  yowr  Grace  to  waye  suche  injuryes  125 

As  I  daylye  suffer  by  thes  same  subtyll  spyes, 

And  lett  me  have  ryght,  as  ye  are  a  ryghtfull  kyng 

Apoyntyd  of  God  to  have  such  mater  in  doyng ; 

For  God  wyllyth  yow  to  helpe  the  pore  wydowes  cause, 

As  he  by  Esaye  protesteth  in  this  same  clause:  130 

Querite  judicium,  subvenite  oppresso, 

Judicate  pupillo,  defendite  viduam  : 

Seke  ryght  to  poore,1  to  the  weake  and  fat[h]erlesse, 

Defende  the  wydowe  whan  she  is  in  dystresse. 

SED.     I  tell  ye,  the  woman  ys  in  great  hevynes.  135 

K.  JOHAN.    I  may  not  in  nowyse  leve  thi  ryght  undyscuste, 
For  God  hath  sett  me  by  his  apoyntment  just 
To  further  thy  cause,  to  mayntayne  thi  ryght, 
And  therf or  I  wyll  supporte  the  daye .  and  nyght ; 
So  long  as  my  symple  lyffe  shall  here  indewer  140 

I  wyll  se  the  haue  no  wrong,  be  fast  and  swer. 
I  wyll  fyrst  of  all  call  my  nobylyte, 
Dwkis,  erlyes  and  lords,  yche  one  in  ther  degre ; 
Next  them  the  clargy,  or  fathers  spirituall, 

Archebysshopes,  bysshoppes,  abbottes,  and  pryers  all;  145 

Than  the  great  juges  and  lawers  every-chone, 
So  opyny[n]g  to  them  thi  cause  and  petyfull  mone, 
By  the  meanys  wherof  I  shall  their  myndes  vnderstande. 
Yf  they  helpe  the  not,  my-selfe  wyll  take  yt  in  hande, 
And  sett  such  a  waye  as  shall  be  to  thi  comforte.  150 

YNGL.     Than,  for  an  answere  I  wyll  shortly  ageyne  resort. 

K.  JOHAN.     Do,  Ynglond,  hardly,  and    thow  shalt  have 
remedy. 

YNGL.     God  reward  yowr  Grace,  I  beseche  hym  hartely, 
And  send  yow  longe  dayes  to  governe  this  realme  in  peace ! 

1  C.  suggests  procure,  but  remarks  that  Bale  did  not  make  the  change, 
although  he  inserted  a  in  weake  in  the  same  line. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  531 

K.  JOHAN.     Gramercy,  Ynglond !    and  send  the  plentyus 

increse !  155 

Go  owt  Ynglond,  and  dresefor  Clargy. 

SED.     Of  bablyng-matters,  I  trow,  yt  is  tyme  to  cease. 

K.  JOHAN.     Why  dost   thow  call  them   bablyng-maters  ? 
Tell  me. 

SED.     For  they  are  not  worth  the  shakyng  of  a  per-tre  J 
Whan  the  peres  are  gone ;  they  are  but  dyble-dable. 
I  marvell  ye  can  abyd  suche  byble-bable.  160 

K.  JOHAN.     Thow  semyst  to  be  a  man  of  symple  dys- 
crescyon. 

SED.     Alas,  that  ye  are  not  a  pryst  to  here  confessyon  ! 

K.  JOHAN.     Why  for  confessyon?  Lett  me  know  thi  fan- 
tasye. 

SED.     Becawse  that  ye  are  a  man  so  full  of  mercye, 
Namely  to  women,  that  wepe  with  a  hevy  harte  165 

Whan  they  in  the  churche  hath  lett  but  a  lytyl  farte. 

K.  JOHAN.     I  perseyve  well  now  thow  speakyst  all  this  in 

mockage, 

Becawse  I  take  parte  with  Englandes  ryghtfull  herytage. 
Say  thu  what  thow  wylt,  her  maters  shall  not  peryshe. 

SED.     Yt  is  joye  of  hym  that  women  so  can  cheryshe.  1 70 

K.  JOHAN.     God  hathe  me  ordeynned  in  this  same  princely 

estate, 
For  that  I  shuld  helpe  such  as  be  desolate. 

SED.     Yt  is  as  great  pyte  to  se  a  woman  wepe 
As  yt  is  to  se  a  sely  dodman  crepe, 
Or,  as  ye  wold  say,  a  sely  goose  go  barefote.  175 

K.  JOHAN.     Thou  semyste  by  thy  wordes  to  have  no  more 

wytt  than  a  coote. 

I  mervell  thou  arte  to  Englond  so  unnaturall, 
Beyng  her  owne  chyld :  thou  art  worse  than  a  best  brutall. 

SED.     I  am  not  her  chyld  !  I  defye  hyr,  by  the  messe ! 
I  her  sone,  quoth  he?  I  had  rather  she  were  hedlesse.  180 

Thowgh  I  sumtyme  be  in  Englond  for  my  pastaunce, 

l  C.  pertre. 


532  JOHN    BALE. 

Yet  was  I  neyther  borne  here,  in  Spayne,  nor  in  Fraunce, 
But  under  the  Pope  in  the  holy  cyte  of  Rome, 
And  there  wyll  I  dwell  unto  the  daye  of  dome. 

K.  JOHAN.     But  what  is   thy  name?     Tell  me  yett  onys 

agayne.  185 

SED.     As  I  sayd  afore,  I  am  Sedycyon  playne : 
In  euery  relygyon  and  munkysh  secte  I  rayne, 
Havyng  yow  prynces  in  scorne,  hate  and  dysdayne. 

K.  JOHAN.     I  pray  the,  good  frynd,  tell  me  what  ys  thy 
facyon. 

SED.     Serche  and  ye  shall  fynd  in  euery  congregacyon         190 
That  long  to  the  Pope,  for  they  are  to  me  full  swer, 
And  wyll  be  so  long  as  they  last  and  endwer. 

K.  JOHAN.     Yff  thow  be  a  cloysterer,  tell  of  what  order 
thow  art. 

SED.     In  euery  estate  of  the  clargye  I  playe  a  part: 
Sumtyme  I  can  be  a  monke  in  a  long  syd  cowle ;  195 

Sumtyme  I  can  be  a  none  and  loke  lyke  an  owle ; 
Sumtyme  a  chanon  in  a  syrples  fayer  and  whyght ; 
A  chapterhowse  monke  sumtyme  I  apere  in  syght ; 
I  am  ower  Syre  John  sumtyme,  with  a  new-shaven  crowne ; 
Sumtyme  the  person,  and  swepe  the  stretes  with  a  syd  gowne  ;  200 
Sumtyme  the  bysshoppe  with  a  myter  and  a  cope  ; 
A  graye  fryer  sumtyme  with  cutt  shoes  and  a  rope ; 
Sumtyme  I  can  playe  the  whyght  monke,  sumtyme  the  fryer, 
The*  purgatory  prist,  and  euery  mans  wyffe  desyer. 
This  cumpany  hath  provyded  for  me  morttmayne,  205 

For  that  I  myght  ever  among  ther  sort  remayne. 
Yea,  to  go  farder,  sumtyme  I  am  a  cardynall ; 
Yea,  sumtyme  a  pope  and  than  am  I  lord  over  all, 
Bothe  in  hevyn  and  erthe  and  also  in  purgatory, 
And  do  weare  iij  crownes  whan  I  am  in  my  glorye.  210 

K.  JOHAN.     But  what  doeste  thow  here  in  England?    Tell 
me  shortlye. 

SED.     I  hold  upp  the  Pope,  as  in  other  places  many, 
For  his  ambassador  I  am  contymvally, 
In  Sycell,  in  Naples,  in  Venys  and  Ytalye, 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  533 

In  Pole,  Spruse,  and  Berne,  in  Denmarke  and  Lumbardye,      215 
In  Aragon,  in  Spayne,  in  Fraunce  and  in  Germanye, 
In  Ynglond,  in  Scotlond,  and  in  other  regyons  elles; 
For  his  holy  cawse  I  mayntayne  traytors  and  rebelles, 
That  no  prince  can  have  his  peples  obedyence 
Except  yt  doth  stond  with  the  Popes  prehemynence.  220 

K.  JOHAN.     Gett  the  hence,  thow  knave,  and  moste  pre- 

sumptuows  wreche, 

Or,  as  I  am  trew  kyng,  thow  shalt  an  halter  streche ! 
We  wyll  thow  know  yt,  owr  power  ys  of  God, 
And  th  erf  ore  we  wyll  so  execute  the  rod 

That  no  lewde  pryst  shall  be  able  to  mayneteyne  the.  225 

I  se  now  they  be  at  to  mych  lyberte ; 
We  wyll  short  ther  hornys,  yf  God  send  tyme  and  space! 
SED.     Than  I  in  Englond  am  lyke  to  have  no  place? 
K.  JOHAN.     No,  that  thow  arte  not,  and  therfor  avoyd 

apace ! 
SED.     By  the  holy  masse,   I  must  lawgh  to  here  yowr 

Grace!  230 

Ye  suppose  and  thynke  that  ye  cowd  me  subdewe ; 
Ye  shall  never  fynd  yowr  supposycyon  trewe, 
Thowgh  ye  wer  as  strong  as  Hector  and  Diomedes, 
Or  as  valyant  as  ever  was  Achylles. 

Ye  are  well  content  that  bysshoppes  contynew  styll?  235 

K.  JOHAN.     We  are  so,  in-dede,  yf  they  ther  dewte  fullfyll. 
SED.     Nay  than,  good  inowgh !     Yowr  awtoryte  and  power 
Shall  passe  as  they  wyll ;  they  have  sawce  bothe  swet  and 

sower. 
K.  JOHAN.     What    menyst   thow   by    that?  shew  me  thy 

intente  this  hower. 
SED.     They  are   Codes  vycars,  they  can  both  save  and 

lose.  240 

K.  JOHAN.    Ah,  thy  meening  ys  that  they  maye  a  prynce 

depose. 

SED.     By  the  rood,  they  may,  and  that  wyll  appere  by  yow  ! 
K.  JOHAN.    Be  the  helpe  of  God,  we  shall  se  to  that  well 
inow. 


534  JOHN    BALE. 

SED.    Nay,  ye  can  not,  thowgh  ye  had  Argus  eyes, 
In  abbey es  they  haue  so  many  suttyll  spyes  ;  245 

For  ones  in  the  yere  they  have  secret  vysytacyons, 
And  yf  ony  prynce  reforme  ther  ungodly  facyons, 
Than  ij  of  the  monkes  must  forthe  to  Rome  by-and-by 
With  secrett  letters  to  avenge  ther  injury. 

For  a  thowsand  pownd  they  shrynke  not  in  soch  matter,  250 

And  yet  for  the  tyme  the  prynce  to  his  face  they  flater. 
I  am  ever-more  ther  gyde  and  ther  advocate. 

K.  JOHAN.     Than  with  the  bysshoppes  and  monkes  thu 
art  checke-mate? 

SED.     I  dwell  among  them  and  am  one  of  ther  sorte. 

K.  JOHAN.     For  thy  sake  they  shall  of  me  have  but  small 

comforte.  255 

Loke,  wher  I  fynd  the,  that  place  wyll  I  put  downe. 

SED.     What  yf  ye  do  chance  to  fynd  me  in  euery  towne 
Where-as  is  fownded  any  sect  monastycall? 

K.  JOHAN.     I  pray  God  I  synke  yf  I  dystroye  them  not  all! 

SED.     Well,  yf  ye  so  do,  yett  know  I  where  to  dwell.  260 

K.  JOHAN.     Thow  art  not  skoymose  thy  fantasy  for  to  tell. 

SED.     Gesse  !     At  a  venture  ye  may  chance  the  marke  to 
hytt. 

K.  JOHAN.     Thy  falssed  to  shew,  no  man  than  thy  selfe 
more  fytt. 

SED.     Mary,  in  confessyon  under-nethe  benedicite. 

K.  JOHAN.    Nay,  tell  yt  agayne,  that  I  may  understand  the.     265 

SED.     I  say  I  can  dwell,  whan  all  other  placys  fayle  me, 
In  ere-confessyon  undernethe  benedicite; 
And  whan  I  am  there,  the  pryst  may  not  bewray  me. 

K.  JOHAN.     Why,  wyll  ere-confesshon  soch  a  secret  traytor 
be? 

SED.     Whan  all  other  fayle,  he  is  so  sure  as  stele.  270 

Offend  Holy  Churche,  and  I  warrant  ye  shall  yt  fele ; 
For  by  confessyon  the  Holy  Father  knoweth 
Throw-owt  all  Christendom  what  to  his  Holynes  growyth. 

K.  JOHAN.     Oh,  where  ys  Nobylyte,  that  he  myght  knowe 
thys  falshed? 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  535 

SED.     Nay,  he  is  becum  a  mayntener  of  owr  godhed.  275 

1  know  that  he  wyll  do  Holy  Chyrche  no  wronge, 
For  I  am  his  gostly  father  and  techear  amonge. 
He  belevyth  nothyng  but  as  Holy  Chyrch  doth  tell. 

K.  JOHAN.    Why,  geveth  he  no  credence  to  Cristes  holy 

gospell? 
SED.     No,  ser,  by  the  messe,  but  he  callyth  them  here- 

tyckes  280 

That  preche  the  gospell,  and  sedycyows  scysmatyckes, 
He  tache  them,  vex  them,  from  prison  to  prison  he  turne  them, 
He  indygth  them,  juge  them,  and,  in  conclusyon,  he  burne 

them. 

K.  JOHAN.     We  rewe  to  here  this  of  owr  nobylyte. 
But  in  this  be-half e  what  seyst  of  the  spretuallte?  285 

SED.     Of  this  I  am  swer  to  them  to  be  no  stranger, 
And  spesyally,  whan  ther  honor  ys  in  dawnger. 

K.  JOHAN.     We  trust  owr  lawers  have  no  such  wyckyd 

myndes. 

SED.     Yes,  they  many  tymys  are  my  most  secrett  fryndes. 
With  faythfull  prechers  they  can  play  leger-demayne,  290 

And  with  falcje  colores  procure  them  to  be  slayne. 

K.  JOHAN.     I  perseyve  this  worlde  is  full  of  iniquite. 
As  God  wold  have  yt,  here  cummyth  Nobylyte. 

SED.     Doth  he  so  in-dede?     By  Owr  Lord,  than  wyll  I 

hence ! 
K.  JOHAN.     Thow  saydest   thu  woldyst   dwell  where   he 

kepyth  resydence.  295 

SED.     Yea,  but  fyrst  of  all  I  must  chaunge  myn  apparell 
Unto  a  bysshoppe,  to  maynetayene  with  my  quarell, 
To  a  monke  or  pryst,  or  to  sum  holy  fryer ; 
I  shuld  never  elles  accomplych  my  dysyre. 

K.  JOHAN.     Why,  art  thow  goyng?     Naye,  brother,  thow 

shalte  not  hence.  300 

SED.     I  wold  not  be  sene  as  I  am  for  fortye  pence. 
Whan  I  am  relygyouse,  I  wyll  returne  agayne. 

K.  JOHAN.     Thow  shalt  tary  here,  or  I  must  put  the  to 
payne. 


JOHN    BALE. 

SED.     I  have  a  great  mynd  to  be  a  lecherous  man  — 
A  wengonce  take  yt !   I  wold  saye,  a  relygyous  man.  305 

I  wyll  go  and  cum  so  fast  as  evyr  I  can. 

K.  JOHAN.     Tush,  dally  not  with  me !     I  saye  tnow  shalt 

abyde. 

SED.     Wene  yow  to  hold  me  that  I  shall  not  slyppe  asyde? 
K.  JOHAN.     Make  no  more  prattyng,  for  I  saye  thu  shalt 

abyde. 
SED.     Stoppe  not  my  passage,  I  must  over  see  at  the  next 

tyde!  310 

K.  JOHAN.     I  will  ordeyne  so,  I  trowe,  thow  shalt  not  over. 
SED.     Tush,  tush,  I  am  sewer  of  redy  passage  at  Dover. 
K.  JOHAN.     The  devyll   go  with  hym  !     The    unthryftye 

knave  is  gone. 

Her  go  ovjt  Sedwsion  and  drese  for  Syvyll  Order,     \_Enter  Nobelyte.} 

NOB.     Treble  not  yowr-sylfe  with  no  such  dyssolute  per- 

sone ; 

For  ye  knowe  full  well  very  ly ttell  honeste  315 

Ys  gote  at  ther  handes  in  every  commynnalte. 

K.  JOHAN.     This  is  but  dallyaunce ;  ye  do  not  speke  as  ye 

thynke. 

NOB.     By  my  trowthe,  I  do,  or  elles  I  wold  I  shuld  synke  ! 
K.  JOHAN.     Than    must    I    marvell    at  yow  of    all    men 

lyvynge. 

NOB.     Why  mervell  at  me?   tell  me  yowr  very  menyng.        320 
K.  JOHAN.     For  no  man  levynge  is  in  more  famylyerite 
With  that  wycked  wrech,  yf  it  be  trew  that  he  told  me. 
NOB.     What  wrech  speke   ye  of?     For  Jesus  love,  inty- 

mate  ! 
K.  JOHAN.     Of  that  presumtous  wrech  that  was  with  me 

here  of  late, 

Whom  yow  wyllyd  not  to  vexe  my-selfe.  with-all.  325 

NOB.     I  know  hym  not,  I,  by  the  waye  that  my  sowll  to 

shall ! 
K.  JOHAN.     Make  yt  not  so  strange,  for  ye  know  hym  wyll 

inow. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  537 

NOB.     Beleve  me  yff  ye  wyll !     I  know  hym  not,  I  assuer 

yow. 

K.  JOHAN.     Ware  ye  never  yett  aquantyd  with  Sedission? 
NOB.     Syns  I  was  a  chyld,  both  hym  and  his  condycyon      330 
I  ever  hated  for  his  iniquite. 

[Enter  Clargy.] 

K.  JOHAN.     A  clere  tokyn  that  is  of  trew  nobelyte  ; 
But  I  pray  to  God  we  fynde  yt  not  other-wyse. 
Yt  was  never  well  syns  the  clargy  wrowght  by  practyse, 
And  left  the  Scripture  for  mens  ymagynacyons,  335 

Dyvydyng  them-selvys  in  so  many  congrygacyons 
Of  monkes,  chanons  and  fryers,  of  dyvers  colors  and  facyons. 

THE  CLARGY.     I  do  trust  yowr  Grace  wyll  be  as  lovyng 

now 
As  yowr  predysessowrs  have  bene  to  us  before  yow. 

K.  JOHAN.     I  wyll,  suer,  wey  my  love  with  yowr  be-havers  :  340 
Lyke  as  ye  deserve,  so  wyll  I  bere  yow  favers. 
Clargy,  marke  yt  well,  I  have  more  to  yow  to  say 
Than,  as  the  sayeng  is,  the  prest  dyd  speke  a  Sonday. 

CLARGY.     Ye  wyll  do  us  no  wrong,  I  hope,  nor  injurye. 

K.  JOHAN.     No,   I  wyll  do  you    ryght  in  seyng   yow  do 

yowr  dewtye.  345 

We  know  the  cawtelles  of  yowr  sotyll  companye. 

CLARGY.     Yf  ye  do  us  wrong,  we  shall  seke  remedy. 

K.  JOHAN.  Yea,  that  is  the  cast  of  all  yowr  company. 
Whan  kynges  correcte  yow  for  yowr  actes  most  ungodly, 
To  the  Pope,  syttyng  in  the  chayer  of  pestoolens,  350 

Ye  ronne  to  remayne  in  yowr  concupysens. 
Thus  sett  ye  at  nowght  all  princely  prehemynens, 
Subdewyng  the  order  of  dew  obedyens. 
But  with-in  a  whyle  I  shall  so  abate  yowr  pryde 
That  to  yowr  Pope  ye  shall  noyther  runne  nor  ryde,  355 

But  ye  shall  be  glad  to  seke  to  me,  yowr  prynce, 
For  all  such  maters  as  shall  be  with-in  this  provynce, 
Lyke  as  God  wyllyth  yow  by  his  Scripture  evydente. 

NOB.     To  the  Church,  I  trust,  ye  wyll  be  obedyent. 


538  JOHN    BALE. 

K.  JOHAN.     No  mater  to  yow  whether  I  be  so  or  no.  360 

NOB.     Yes,  mary,  is  yt,  for  I  am  sworne  therunto. 
I  toke  a  great  othe  whan  I  was  dubbyd  a  knyght 
Ever  to  defend  the  Holy  Churches  ryght. 

CLARGY.     Yea,  and  in  her  quarell  ye  owght  onto  deth  to 
fyght. 

K.  JOHAN.     Lyke  backes,  in  the    darke   ye  always   take 

yowr  flyght,  365 

Flytteryng  in  fauseys,  and  ever  abhorre  the  lyght. 
I  rew  yt  in  hart  that  yow,  Nobelyte, 
Shuld  thus  bynd  yowr-selfe  to  the  grett  captyvyte 
Of  blody  Babulon,  the  grownd  and  mother  of  whordom, 
The   Romych  Churche  I  meane,  more  vyle  than   ever  was 

Sodom,  370 

And,  to  say  the  trewth,  a  mete  spowse  for  the  fynd. 

[Enter  Syvyll  Order.] 

CLARGY.     Yowr  Grace  is  fare  gonne ;  God  send  yow  a 

better  mynd ! 
K.  JOHAN.     Hold  yowr  peace,  I  say !  ye  are  a  lytyll  to 

f  atte ; 

In  a  whyle,  I  hope,  ye  shall  be  lener  sumwhatte ! 
We  shall  loke  to  yow  and  to  Sivyll  Order  also;  375 

Ye  walke  not  so  secrett  but  we  "know  wher-a-bowght  ye  goo. 
S.  ORDER.     Why,  yowr  Grace  hath  no  cawse  with  me  to 

be  dysplesyd. 
K.  JOHAN.     All  thyngs  consyderyd,  we  have  small  cause 

to  be  plesyd. 
S.  ORDER.     I  besech  yowr  Grace  to  graunt  me  a  word  or 

too. 
K.  JOHAN.     Speke  on  yowr  pleasure,  and  yowr  hole  mynd 

also.  380 

S.  ORDER.     Ye  know  very  well,  to  set  all  thynges  in  order 
I  have  moche  ado,  and  many  thynges  passe  fro  me, 

For  yowr  common-welth,  and  that  in  euery  border 
For  offyces,  for  londes,  for  lawe  and  for  lyberte, 
And  for  transgressors  1  appoynt  the  penalte ; 


KYNGE   JOHAN.  539 

That  cytes  and  townes  maye  stand  in  quiotose  peace, 

That  all  theft  and  murder,  with  other  vyce,  maye  seace.  387 

Yff  I  have  chaunsed,  for  want  of  cyrcumspeccyon, 

To  passe  the  lymytes  of  ryght  and  equite, 
I  submyte  my-selfe  unto  yowr  Graces  correccyon, 

Desyryng  pardon  of  yowr  benygnyte. 

I  wot  I  maye  fall  throwgh  my  fragylyte ; 
Therfore  I  praye  yow  tell  me  what  the  mater  ys, 
And  amends  shall  be  where-as  I  have  done  amyse.  394 

K.  JOHAN.     Aganste  amendement  no  resonnable  man  can 

be. 

NOB.     That  sentence  rysyth  owt  of  an  hygh  charyte. 
K.  JOHAN.     Now  that  ye  are  here  assembled  all  to-gether, 
Amongeste  other  thynges  ye  shall  fyrst  of  all  consyder 
That  my  dysplesure  rebounyth  l  on-to  yow  all. 

CLARGY.     To  yow  non  of  us  ys  prejudycyall.  400 

K.  JOHAN.     I  shall   prove  yt.     Yes !    how  have   ye  usyd 

Englond? 

NOB.     But  as  yt  becommyth  us,  so  fare  as  I  understond. 
K.  JOHAN.     Yes !  the  pore  woman  complayneth  her  gre- 

vosly, 

And  not  with-owt  a  cawse,  for  she  hath  great  injurye. 
I  must  se  to  yt,  —  ther  ys  no  remedy,  —  405 

For  it  ys  a  charge  gevyn  me  from  God  All-myghtye. 
How  saye  ye,  Clargye?     Apperyth  it  not  so  to  yow? 

CLARGY.     Yf  it  lykyth  yowr  Grace,  all  we  know  that  well 

ynow. 
K.  JOHAN.     Than  yow,  Nobelyte,  wyll  affyrme  yt,  I  am 

suer. 

NOB.     Ye,  that  I  wyll,  sur,  so  long  as  my  lyfe  endure.          410 
K.  JOHAN/    And  yow,  Cyvyll  Order,  I  thynke  wyll  graunte 

the  same ! 

S.  ORDER.     Ondowghted,  sir  ;  yea,  elles  ware  yt  to  me  gret 
shame. 

1  C.rebonnyth  ;  Kittredge  suggests  redounyth,  but  rebounyth  is  possible. 


54O  JOHN    BALE. 

K.  JOHAN.     Than  for  Englondes  cawse    I  wyll  be  sume- 

what  playne. 

Yt  is  yow,  Clargy,  that  hathe  her  in  dysdayne : 
With  yowr  Latyne  howrs,  serymonyes,  and  popetly  playes,        415 
In  her  more  and  more  Gods  holy  worde  decayes  ; 
And  them  to  maynteyn,  unresonable  ys  the  spoyle 
Of  her  londs,  her  goods,  and  of  her  pore  chylders  toyle. 
Rekyn  fyrst  yowr  tythis,  yowr  devocyons  and  yowr  offrynges, 
Mortuaryes,  pardons,  bequests  and  other  thynges,  420 

Besydes  that  ye  cache  for  halowed  belles  and  purgatorye, 
For  juelles,  for  relyckes,  confessyon  and  cowrts  of  baudrye, 
For  legacyes,  trentalls,  with  Scalacely  messys, 
Wherby  ye  have  made  the  people  very  assys  ; 
And  over  all  this  ye  have  browght  in  a  rabyll  425 

Of  Latyne  mummers  and  sects  desseyvabyll, 
Evyn  to  dewore  her  and  eat  her  upp  attonnys. 

CLARGY.     Yow  wold  have  no  Churche,  I  wene,  by  thes 
sacred  bones! 

K.  JOHAN.     Yes,  I  wold  have  a  Churche,  not  of  dysgysyd 

shavelynges, 

But  of  faythfull  hartes  and  charytable  doynges  ;  430 

For  whan  Christes  Chyrch  was  in  her  hyeste  glory, 
She  knew  neyther  thes  sectes  nor  their  ipocrysy. 

CLARGY.     Yes,  I  wyll  prove  yt  by  David  substancyally : 
Astitit  Regina  a  dextris  tuts  in  vestitu 

Deanrato,  circKmdata  varietate :  435 

A  quene,  sayth  Davyd,  on  thy  ryght  hand,  Lord,  I  se 
Apparrellyd  with  golde  and  compassyd  with  dyversyte. 

K.  JOHAN.     What  ys  yowr  meanyng  by  that  same  Scrip- 
ture?    Tell  me. 

CLARGY.     This  quene  ys  the  Chyrch,  which  thorow  all 

Cristen  regions 

Ys  beawtyfull,  dectyd  l  with  many  holy  relygyons :  440 

Munks,  chanons  and  fryers,  most  excellent  dyvynis, 
As  Grandy  Montensers  and  other  Benedictyns, 
Primostratensers,  Bernards  and  Gylbertynys, 
l  Kittredge  suggests  deccyd. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  541 

Jacobytes,  Mynors,  Whyght  Carmes  and  Augustynis, 

Sanbenets,  Cluniackes,  with  holy  Carthusyans,  445 

Heremytes  and  ancors,  with  most  myghty  Rodyans, 

Crucifers,  Lucifers,  Brigettis,  Ambrosyanes, 

Stellifers,  Ensifers,  with  Purgatoryanes, 

Sophyanes,  Indianes  and  Camaldulensers, 

Clarynes  and  Columbynes,  Templers,  Newe  Ninivytes,  450 

Rufyanes,  Tercyanes,  Lorytes  and  Lazarytes, 

Hungaryes,  Teutonykes,  Hospitelers,  Honofrynes, 

Basyles  and  Bonhams,  Solanons  and  Celestynes, 

Paulynes,  Hieronymytes,  and  Monkes  of  Josaphathes  Valleye, 

Fulygynes,  Flamynes,  with  Bretherne  of  the  Black  Alleye,       455 

Donates  and  Dimysynes,  with  Canons  of  S.  Marke, 

Vestals  and  monyals,  a  worlde  to  heare  them  barke, 

Abbotts  and  doctors,  with  bysshoppes  and  cardynales, 

Archedecons  and  pristes,  as  to  ther  fortune  falles. 

S.  ORDER.     Me  thynkyth  yowr  fyrst  text  stondeth  nothyng 

with  yowr  reson,  460 

For  in  Davydes  tyme  wer  no  such  sects  of  relygyon. 

K.  JOHAN.     Davyd  meanyth  vertuys  by  the  same  diversyte, 
As  in  the  sayd  psalme  yt  is  evydent  to  se, 
And  not  munkysh  sects  ;  but  it  is  ever  yowr  cast 
For  yowr  advauncement  the  Scripturs  for  to  wrast.  465 

CLARGY.     Of  owr  Holy  Father  in  this  I  take  my  grownd, 
Which  hathe  awtoryte  the  Scripturs  to  expond. 

K.  JOHAN.     Nay,  he  presumyth  the  Scripturs  to  confownd. 
Nowther  thow  nor  the  Pope  shall  do  pore  Englond  wronge, 
I  beyng  governor  and  kyng  her  peple  amonge.  470 

Whyle  yow  for  lucre  sett  forth  yowr  popysh  lawys 
Yowr-selvys  to  advaunce,  ye  wold  make  us  pycke  strawes. 
Nay,  ipocryts,  nay !     We  wyll  not  be  scornyd  soo 
Of  a  sort  of  knavys  ;  we  shall  loke  yow  otherwyse  too ! 

NOB.     Sur,  yowr  sprytes  are  movyd,  I  persayve  by  yowr 

langage.  475 

K.  JOHAN.    I  wonder  that  yow  for  such  veyne  popych  bag-* 

gage 
Can  suffyr  Englond  to  be  impoveryshyd 


542  JOHN    BALE. 

And  mad  a  begger ;  yow  are  very  yll  advysyd. 
NOB.     I  marvell  grettly  that  ye  say  thus  to  me. 
K.  JOHAN.      For   dowghtles   ye   do   not   as   becummyth 

Nobelyte ;  480 

Ye  spare  nouther  lands  nor  goods,  but  all  ye  geve 
To  thes  cormerants  ;  yt  wold  any  good  man  greve 
To  se  yowr  madnes,  as  I  wold  God  shuld  save  me  ! 

NOB.     Sur,  I  suppose  yt  good  to  bylde  a  perpetuite 
For  me  and  my  frendes  to  be  prayed  for  evermore.  485 

K.  JOHAN.     Tush,  yt  is  madnes  all  to  dyspayre  in  God  so 

sore, 
And  to  thynke  Christs  deth  to  be  unsufficient! 

NOB.     Sur,  that  I  have  don  was  of  a  good  intent. 

K.  JOHAN.     The  intente  ys  nowght  whych  hath  no  sewer 

grounde. 
CLARGY.     Yff  yow  continue,  ye  wyll  Holy  Chyrch  con- 

funde.  490 

K.  JOHAN.     Nay,  no  Holy  Chyrch,  nor  feythfull  congre- 

gacyon, 
But  an  hepe  of  adders  of  Antechrists  generacyon. 

S.  ORDER.     Yt  pyttyth  me  moche  that  ye  are  to  them  so 

harde. 
K.  JOHAN.     Yt  petyeth  me  more  that  ye  them  so  mych 

regarde. 

They  dystroye  mennys  sowlls  with  damnable  supersticyon,       495 
And  decaye  all  realmys  by  meyntenaunce  of  sedycyon. 
Ye  wold  wonder  to  know  what  profe  I  have  of  this. 

NOB.     Well,  amenment  shalbe  wher  anythyng  is  amysse  ; 
For,  undowtted,  God  doth  open  soche  thyngs  to  prynces 
As  to  none  other  men  in  the  Crystyen  provynces,  500 

And  therfor  we  wyll  not  in  this  with  yowr  Grace  contend. 
S.  ORDER.     No,  but  with  Gods  grace  we  shall  owr  myse- 

dedes  amend. 

CLARGY.     For  all  such  forfets  as  yowr  pryncely  Mageste 
For* yowr  owne  person  or  realme  can  prove  by  me 
I  submytte  my-selfe  to  yow,  bothe  body  and  goods.  505 

Knelt.     * 


KYNGE   JOHAN.  543 

K.  JOHAN.     We  pety  yow  now,  consyderyng  yowr  repent- 
ante  modes, 

And  owr  gracyous  pardone  we  grawnte  yow  upon  amendment. 
CLARGY.     God  preserve  yowr  Grace  and  Mageste  excelent ! 
K.  JOHAN.     Aryse,  Clargy,  aryse,  and  ever  be  obedyent, 
And,  as  God  commandeth  yow,  take  us  for  yowr  governer.       510 
CLARGY.     By  the  grace  of  God,  the  Pope  shall  be  my  ruler  ! 
K.  JOHAN.     What  saye  ye,  Clargy?  who  ys  yowr  governer? 
CLARGY.     Ha!  ded  I  stomble?     I  sayd  my  prynce  ys  my 

ruler. 
K.  JOHAN.     I  pray  to  owr  Lord  this  obedyence  maye  in- 

dewre. 

CLARGY.     I  wyll  not  breke  yt,  ye  may  be  fast  and  suer.       515 
K.  JOHAN.     Than  cum  hether  all  thre  ;  ye  shall  know  more 

of  my  mynde. 

CLARGY.     Owr  kyng  to  obeye,  the  Scriptur  doth  us  bynde. 
K.  JOHAN.     Ye  shall  fyrst  be  sworne  to  God  and  to  the 

Crowne 

To  be  trew  and  juste  in  every  cetye  and  towne ; 
And  this  to  performe  set  hand  and  kysse  the  bocke !  520 

S.  ORDER.     With  the  wyffe  of  Loth  we  wyll  not  backe- 

ward  locke, 
Nor  turne  from  owr  oth,  but  ever  obeye  yowr  Grace. 

K.  JOHAN.     Than  wyll  I  gyve  yow  yowr  chargys  her  in 

place, 
And  accepte  yow  all  to  be  of  owr  hyghe  councell. 

ALL  THREE.     To  be  faythfull,  than,  ye  us  more  streytly 

compell.  525 

K.  JOHAN.     For  the  love  of  God,  loke  to  the  state   of 

Englond ! 

Leate  non  enemy  holde  her  in  myserable  bond ; 
Se  yow  defend  her  as  yt  becummyth  Nobilite  ; 
Se  yow  instructe  l  her  acordyng  to  yowr  degre ; 
Fournysh  her  yow  with  a  cyvyle  honeste :  530 

Thus  shall  she  florysh  in  honor  and  grett  plente. 
With  godly  wysdom  yowr  matters  so  conveye 
l  C.  instrutte. 


544  JOHN    BALE. 

That  the  commynnalte  the  powers  maye  obeye, 
And  ever  be  ware  of  that  false  thefe  Sedycyon, 
Whych  poysenneth  all  realities  and  bryng  them  to  perdycyon.  535 

NOB.     Sur,  for  soche  wrecches  we  wyll  be  so  circumspecte 
That  neyther  ther  falsed  nor  gylle  shall  us  infecte. 

CLARGY.     I  warrant  yow,  sur,  no,  and  that  shall  well  apere. 

S.  ORDER.     We  wyll  so  provyde,  yff  anye  of  them  cum 

here 
To  dysturbe  the  realme,  they  shall  be  full  glad  to  fle.  540 

K.  JOHAN.     Well,  yowr  promyse  includeth  no  small  dyffy- 

culte ; 

But  I  put  the  case  that  this  false  thefe  Sedycyon 
Shuld  cum  to  yow  thre  and  call  hym-selfe  Relygyon, 
Myght  he  not  under  the  pretence  of  holynes 
Cawse  yow  to  consent  to  myche  ungodlynes?  545 

NOB.     He  shall  never  be  able  to  do  yt,  veryly. 

K.  JOHAN.     God  graunt  ye  be  not  deceyvyd  by  hypocresye ! 
I  say  no  more,  I  ;  in  shepes  aparell  sum  walke 
And  seme  relygeyose  that  deceyvably  can  calke. 
Be  ware  of  soche  hypocrites  as  the  kyngdom  of  hevynfro  man  550 
Do  hyde  for  a-wantage,  for  they  deceyve  now  and  than. 
Well,  I  leve  yow  here  ;  yche  man  consyder  his  dewtye  ! 

NOB.     With  Gods  leve,  no  faute  shall  be  in  this  companye  ! 

K.  JOHAN.     Cum,  Cyvyle  Order,  ye  shall  go  hence  with 
me. 

S.  ORDER.      At   your   commandmente !      I    wyll   gladlye 

wayte  upon  ye.  555 

Here  Kyng  Johan  and  Sivile  Order  go  owt,  and  Syvile  Order  drese  hym 
for  Sedwsyon. 

NOB.     Me  thynke  the  kyng  is  a  man  of  a  wonderfull  wytt. 

CLARGY.     Naye,  saye  that  he  is  of  a  vengeable  craftye 

wytt, 

Than  shall  ye  be  sure  the  trewth  of  the  thyng  to  hytt. 
Hard  ye  not  how  he  of  the  Holy  Church  dyd  rayle? 
His  extreme  thretynyngs  shall  lytyll  hym  avayle  :  560 

I  wyll  worke  soch  wayes  that  he  shall  of  his  purpose  fayle. 

NOB.     Yt  is  meet  a  prince  to  saye  sumwhat  for  his  plesure. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  545 

CLARGY.     Yea,  but  yt  is   to  moch  to  rayle  so  withowt 

mesure. 

NOB.     Well,  lett  every  man  speke  lyke  as  he  hathe  a  cawse. 
CLARGY.     Why,  do  ye  say  so?     Yt  is  tyme  for  me,  than, 

to  pawse.  565 

NOB.     This  wyll  I  saye,  sur,  that  he  ys  so  noble  a  prynce 
As  this  day  raygneth  in  ony  Cristyen  provynce. 

CLARGY.     Mary,  yt   apereth   well   by  that  he  wonne  in 

Fraunce ! 
NOB.     Well,    he   lost  not    there   so   moche   by   martyall 

chaunce 

But  he  gate  moche  more  in  Scotland,  Ireland  and  Wales.          570 
CLARGY.     Yea,  God  sped  us  well,  Crystmes  songes  are 

mery  tales ! 

NOB.     Ye  dysdayne  soche  mater  as  ye  know  full  evydent. 
Are  not  both  Ireland  and  Wales  to  hym  obedyent? 
Yes,  he  holdyth  them  bothe  in  pessable  possessyon, 
And — by-cause  I  wyll  not  from  yowr  tall  make  degressyon, —  775 
For  his  lond  in  Fraunce  he  gyveth  but  lytell  forsse, 
Havyng  to  Englond  all  his  love  and  remorse ; 
And  Angoye  he  gave  to  Artur  his  nevy  in  chaunge. 

CLARGY.     Our  changes  are  soche  that  an  abbeye  turneth 

to  a  graunge. 
We  are  so  handled  we  have  scarce  eyther  horse  or  male.  580 

NOB.     He  that  dothe  hate  me  the  worse  wyll  tell  my  tale  ! 1 
Yt  is  yowr  fassyon  soche  kyngs  to  dyscommend 
As  yowr  abuses  reforme  or  reprehend. 
You  pristes  are  the  cawse  that  chronycles  doth  defame 
So  many  prynces,  and  men  of  notable  name,  585 

For  yow  take  upon  yow  to  wryght  them  evermore ; 
And  therfore  Kyng  Johan  ys  lyke  to  rewe  yt  sore, 
Whan  ye  wryte  his  tyme,  for  vexyng  of  the  Clargy. 
CLARGY.     I  mervell  ye  take  his  parte  so  ernestlye. 
NOB.     Yt  be-comyth  Nobelyte  his  prynces  fame  to  pre- 
serve. 590 
CLARGY.    Yf  he  contynew,  we  are  lyke  in  a  whyle  to  starve : 
1  C.  suggests  that  this  line  belongs  to  Clergy. 


546  JOHN    BALE. 

He  demaundeth  of  us  the  tenth  parte  of  owr  lyvyng. 

NOB.     I  thynke  yt  is  then  for  sum  nessessary  thyng. 

CLARGY.     Mary,  to  recover  that  he  hath  lost  in  Fraunce, 
As  Normandy  dewkedom,  and  his  land  beyond  Orleaunce.        595 

NOB.     And  thynke  ye  not  that  a  mater  nessesary? 

CLARGY.     No,  sur,  by  my  trowth,   he  takyng  yt  of    the 
Clergy. 

NOB.     Ye  cowde  be  content  that  he  shuld  take  yt  of  us. 

CLARGY.     Yea,  so  that  he  wold  spare  the  Clargy,  by  swet 

Jesus ! 

This  takyng  of  us  myght  sone  growe  to  a  custom,  600 

And  than  Holy  Churche  myght  so  be  browght  to  thraldom, 
Whych  hath  ben  ever  from  temporall  prynces  free, 
As  towchyng  trybute  or  other  captyvyte. 

NOB.     He  that  defendeth  yow  owght  to  have  parte  of  yowr 
goodes. 

CLARGY.     He  hath  the  prayers   of   all   them   that  hathe 

hoodes.  605 

NOB.     Why,  ys  that  inowgh  to  helpe  hym  in  his  warre? 

CLARGY.     The  Churche  he  may  not  of  lyberte  debarre. 

NOB.     Ded  not  Crist  hym-selfe  pay  trybutt  unto  Ceser? 
Yf  he  payd  trybute,  so  owght  his  holy  vycar. 

CLARGY.     To  here  ye  reson  so  ondyscretlye,  I  wonder.         610 
Ye  must  consyder  that  Crist  that  tyme  was  under, 
But  his  vycar  now  ys  above  the  prynces  all ; 
Therfor  be  ware  ye  do  not  to  herysy  fall. 
Ye  owght  to  beleve  as  Holy  Chyrche  doth  teche  yow, 
And  not  to  reason  in  soche  hygh  maters  now.  615 

NOB.     I  am  vnlernyd ;  my  wytts  are  sone  confowndyd. 

CLARGY.     Than  leve   soch  maters   to  men   more  depely 
growndyd. 

NOB.     But  how  wyll  ye  do  for  the  othe  that  ye  have  take? 

CLARGY.     The  keyes  of  the  Church  can  all  soche  maters 
of-shake. 

NOB.     What  call  ye  those  keyes?  I  pray  yow  hartly,  tell 

me!  620 

CLARGY.     Owr  Holy  Fathers  power  and  hys  hygh  autoryte. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  547 

NOB.     Well,   I  can  no  more  say ;    ye  are  to  well  lernyd 

for  me. 
My  bysynes  ys  soche  that  here  now  I  must  leve  ye. 

CLARGY.     I  must  hence  also  so  fast  as  ever  maye  be, 
To  sewe  vn-to  Rome  for  the  Churches  lyberte.  625 

Go  owt  Nobylyte  and  Clargy.     Here  Sedycyon  cummyth  in. 

SED.     Haue  in  onys  a-geyne,  in  spyght  of  all  my  enymyes ! 
For  they  cannot  dryve  me  from  all  mennys  companyes ; 
And,  thowgh  yt  were  so  that  all  men  wold  forsake  me, 
Yet  dowght  I  yt  not  but  sume  good  women  wold  take  me. 
I  loke  for  felowys  that  here  shuld  make  sum  sporte :  630 

I  mervell  yt  is  so  longe  ere  they  hether  resorte. 
By  the  messe,  I  wene  the  knaves  are  in  the  bryers, 
Or  ells  they  are  fallen  into  sum  order  of  fryers ! 
Naye,  shall  I  gesse  ryght?  they  are  gon  into  the  stues ; 
I  holde  ye  my  necke,  anon  we  shall  here  newes.  635 

[He  hears  Dyssymulacyori]  seyng  the  Leteny.1 

Lyst,  for  Gods  passyon!   I  trow  her  cummeth  sum  hoggherd 
Callyng  for  his  pygges.     Such  a  noyse  I  neuer  herd ! 

Here  cum  Dyssymulacyon  syngyng  of  the  letany. 

DYS.  (syng)     Sancte  Dominice,  ora  pro  nobis! 

SED.  (syng)     Sancte  pyld  monache,  I  be-shrow  vobis! 

DYS'.  (syng)     Sancte  Francisse,  ora  pro  nobis!  640 

SED.     Here  ye  not?  Cocks  sowle,  what  meaneth  this  ypo- 

crite  knaue? 
DYS.     Pater  noster,  I  pray  God  bryng  hym  sone  to  his 

grave, 

Qui  es  in  celts,  with  an  vengeable  sancttficetur, 
Or  elles  Holy  Chyrche  shall  neuer  thryve,  by  Saynt  Peter ! 
SED.     Tell  me,  good  felowe,  makyste  thu  this  prayer  for 

me?  645 

DYS.     Ye  are  as  ferce  as  thowgh  ye  had  broke  yowr  nose 

at  the  buttre. 

1  C.  has  only  Seyng  the  leteny. 


548  JOHN    BALE. 

I  medyll  not  with  the,  but  here  to  good  sayntes  I  praye 
Agenst  soch  enmyes  as  wyll  Holy  Chyrche  decaye. 

Here  syng  this : 

A  Johanm  Rege  iniquo,  liber  a  nos,  Domine! 

SED.     Leve,    I    saye!    or,    by   messe,    I    wyll   make   yow 

grone !  650 

DYS.     Yff  thow  be  jentyll,  I  pray  the  leate  me  alone, 
For  with-in  a  whyle  my  devocyon  wyll  be  gone. 

SED:     And  wherfor  dost  thou  praye  here  so  bytterly, 
Momblyng  thy  pater  noster  and  chauntyng  the  letany? 

DYS.     For  that  Holy  Chyrch  myght  save  hyr  patrymonye,  655 
And  to  haue  of  Kyng  Johan  a  tryumphant  vyctorye. 

SED.     And  why  of  Kyng  Johan?  doth  he   vexe  yow   so 

sore? 
DYS.     Both  chyrchys  and  abbeys  he  oppressyth  more  and 

more 
And  take  of  the  clergye,  yt  is  onresonable  to  tell. 

SED.     Owte  with  the  Popys  bulles  than,  and  cursse  hym 

downe  to  hell !  660 

DYS.     Tushe!  man,  we  haue  done  so,  but  all  wyll  not  helpe  : 
He  regardyth  no  more  the  Pope  than  he  dothe  a  whelpe. 
SED.     Well,  lett  hym  alone ;  for  that  wyll  I  geve  hym  a 

scelpe. 
But  what  arte  thu  callyd  of  thyn  owne  munkych  nacyon? 

DYS.     Kepe  yt  in  counsell :  Dane  Davy  Dyssymulacyon.     665 
SED.     What,  Dyssymulacyon?  Coks  sowle,  myn  old  aquen- 

tence! 
Par  me  fay e,  mon  amye,  je  \_suis\  l  tote  advoutre  plesaunce. 

DYS.     Gramercyes,  good  frend,  with  all  my  very  hert ! 
I  trust  we  shall  talke  more  frely  or  we  deperte. 

SED.     Why,  vylayn  horson,  knowyst  not  thi  cosyn  Sedy- 

cyon?  670 

DYS.     I  have  ever  loved  both  the  and  thy  condycyon. 
SED.     Thow  must  nedes,  I  trowe,  for  we  cum  of  ij  breth- 
erne ; 

1  Supplied  by  C. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  549 

Yf  thu  remewber,  owr  fathers  were  on  mans  chylderne,  — 
Thow  comyst  of  Falsed  and  I  of  Prevy  Treason. 

DYS.     Than  Infydelyte  owr  granfather  ys  by  reason.  675 

SED.     Mary,  that  ys  trewe,  and  his  begynner  Antycrist, 
The  great  Pope  of  Rome,  or  fyrst  veyne  popysh  prist. 

DYS.     Now  welcum,  cosyn,  by  the  waye  that  my  sowle 
shall  to  ! 

SED.     Gramercy,  cosyn,  by  the  holy  bysshope  Benno ! 
Thow  kepyst  thi  old  wont,  thow  art  styll  an  abbe-man.  680 

DYS.     To  hold  all  thynges  vp  I  play  my  part  now  and  than. 

SED.     Why,  what  manere  of  offyce  hast  thu  with-in  the 
abbey? 

DYS.     Of  all  relygyons  I  kepe  the  chyrch-dore  keye.  , 

SED.     Than  of  a  lykelyhod  thow  art  ther  generall  porter? 

DYS.     Nay,  of  munks  and  chanons  I  am  the  suttyll  sorter.  685 
Whyle  sum  talke  with  Besse,  the  resydewe  kepe  sylence ; 
Thowgh  we  playe  the  knavys,  we  must  shew  a  good  pretence  ; 
Where-so-ever  sum  eate,  a  serten  kepe  the  froyter ; l 
Where-so-ever  sum  slepe,  sum  must  nedes  kepe  the  dorter. 
Dedyst  thu  never  know  the  maner  of  owr  senyes?  690 

SED.     I  was  never  with  them  aqueynted,  by  seynt  Denyes. 

DYS.     Than  never  knewyst  thu  the  knavery  of  owrmenyes. 
Yf  I  shuld  tell  all,  I  cowd  saye  more  than  that. 

SED.     Now,  of  good  felowshyppe,  I  beseche  the  shew  me 
what. 

DYS.     The  profytable  lucre  cummyth  ever  in  by  me.  695 

SED.     But  by  what  meane?  tell  me,  I  hartely  pray  the. 

DYS.     To  wynne  the  peple,  I  appoynt  yche  man  his  place : 
Sum  to  syng  Latyn,  and  sum  to  ducke  at  grace ; 
Sum  to  go  mummyng,  and  sum  to  beare  the  crosse ; 
Sum  to  stowpe  downeward  as  the[r]  heades  ware  stopt  with 

mosse ;  700 

Sum  rede  the  epystle  and  gospell  at  hygh  masse ; 
Sum  syng  at  the  lectorne  with  long  eares  lyke  an  asse ; 
The  pawment  of  the  chyrche  the  aunchent  faders  tredes, 
Sum-tyme  with  a  portas,  sumtyme  with  a  payre  of  bedes. 
1  Qy.  freyter. 


JOHN    BALE. 

And  this  exedyngly  drawt  peple  to  devoycyone,  705 

Specyally  whan  they  do  se  so  good  relygeone. 

Than  have  we  imagys  of  Seynt  Spryte  and  Seynt  Savyer ; 

Moche  is  the  sekynge  of  them  to  gett  ther  faver ; 

Yong  whomen  berfote,  and  olde  men  seke  them  brecheles. 

The  myracles  wrought  there  I  can  in  no  wyse  expresse.  710 

We  lacke  neyther  golde  nor  sylwer,  gyrdles  nor  rynges, 

Candelles  nor  taperes,  nor  other  customyd  offerynges. 

Thowgh  I  seme  a  shepe,  I  can  play  the  suttle  fox ; 

I  can  make  Latten  to  bryng  this  gere  to  the  boxe. 

Tushe!  Latten  is  alone  to  bryng  soche  mater  to  passe,  715 

There  ys  no  Englyche  that  can  soche  slyghtes  compasse ; 

And  therfor  we  wyll  no  servyce  to  be  songe, 

Gospell  nor  pystell,  but  all  in  Latten  tonge. 

Of  owr  suttell  dryftes  many  more  poyntes  are  behynde ; 

Yf  I  tolde  you  all,  we  shuld  never  have  an  ende.  720 

SED.     In  nomine  Patrts,  of  all  that  ever  I  hard 
Thow  art  alone  yet  of  soche  a  dremyng  bussard ! 

DYS.     Nay,  dowst  thu  not  se  how  I  in  my  colours  jette? 
To  blynd  the  peple  I  have  yet  a  farther  fette  : 
This  is  for  Bernard,  and  this  is  for  Benet,  725 

This  is  for  Gylbard,  and  this  is  for  Jhenet, 
For  Frauncys  this  is,  and  this  is  for  Domynyke, 
For  Awsten  and  Elen,  and  this  is  for  Seynt  Partryk. 
We  haue  many  rewlles,  but  never  one  we  kepe ; 
Whan  we  syng  full  lowde  our  harts  be  fast  aslepe.  730 

We  resemble  sayntes  in  gray,  whyte,  blacke,  and  blewe, 
Yet  vnto  prynces  not  one  of  owr  nomber  trewe,  —     . 
And  that  shall  Kyng  Johan  prove  shortly,  by  the  rode ! 

SED.     But  in  the  meane-tyme  yowr-selves  gett  lytyll  good  ; 
Yowr  abbeys  go  downe,  I  heresaye,  every- where.  735 

DYS.     Yea,  frynd  Sedysyon,  but  thow  must   se  to  that 
gere. 

SED.     Than  must  I  have  helpe,  by  swete  Saynt  Benetts 
cuppe ! 

DYS.     Thow  shalt  have  a  chylde  of  myn  owne  bryngyng 
uppe. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  551 

SED.     Of  thy  bryngyng  uppe?     Coks  sowle,  what  knave 
is  that? 

DYS.     Mary,  Pryvat  Welth  ;  now  hayve  I  tolde  the  what.     740 
I  made  hym  a  monke  and  a  perfytt  cloysterer, 
And  in  the  abbeye  he  began  fyrst  celerer, 
Than  pryor,  than  abbote  of  a  thowsand  pownd  land,  no  wors, 
Now  he  is  a  bysshoppe  and  rydeth  with  an  hondryd  hors, 
And,  as  I  here  say,  he  is  lyke  to  be  a  Cardynall.  745 

SED.     Ys  he  so  in-dede?    By  the  masse,  than  have  att  all ! 

DYS.     Nay,  fyrst  Pryvat  Welth  shall  bryng  in  Usurpyd 

Power 
With  hys  autoryte,  and  than  the  gam  ys  ower. 

SED.     Tush,  Usurpyd  Power  dothe  faver  me  of  all  men, 
For  in  his  trebles  I  ease  his  hart  now  and  then.  750 

Whan  prynces'rebell  agenste  hys  autoryte, 
I  make  ther  commons  agenst  them  for  to  be. 
Twenty  Md  men  are  but  a  mornyng  breckefast 
To  be  slayne  for  hym,  he  takyng  his  repast. 

DYS.     Thow  hast,  I  persayve,  a  very  suttyll  cast.  755 

SED.     I  am  for  the  Pope,  as  for  the  shyppe  the  mast. 

DYS.     Than  helpe,  Sedycyon,  I  may  styll  in  Englond  be ! 
Kyng  John  hath  thretned  that  I  shall  ouer  see. 

SED.     Well,  yf  thow  wylte  of  me  have  remedy  this  ower, 
Go  seche  Pryvat  Welth  and  also  Usurpyd  Power.  760 

DYS.     I  can  bryng  but  one,  be  Mary,  Jesus  mother! 

SED.     Bryng  thow  in  the  one,  and  let  hym  bryng  in  the 
other. 

Here  cum  in  Usurpyd  Power  and  Private  Welth,  syngyng  on  after  another. 
Usurpyd  Power  syng  this  : 

Super flumina  Babilonis  suspendimus  organa  nostra. 

Private  Welth  syng  this : 

Quomodo  cantabimus  canticum  bonum  in  terra  aliena? 
SED.     By  the  mas,  me  thynke  they  are  syngyng  of  placebo  / 
DYS.     Peace,  for  with  my  spcctables  vadam  et  videbo! 

Coks  sowll,  yt  is  they !    At  the  last  I  have  smellyd  them  owt. 

Her  go  and  bryng  them 


552  JOHN    BALE. 

SED.     Thow  mayst  be  a  sowe,  yf  thou  hast  so  good  a  snowt.  768 

Surs,  marke  well  this  gere,  for  now  yt  begynnyth  to  worke  : 
False  Dyssymulacion  doth  bryng  in  Privat  Welth  ; 

And  Usurpyd  Power,  which  is  more  ferce  than  a  Turke, 
Cummeth  in  by  hym  to  decaye  all  spyrytuall  helth ; 
Than  I  by  them  bothe,  as  clere  experyence  telth  ; 

We  iiij  by  owr  crafts  Kyng  Johan  wyll  so  subdwe, 

That  for  iij  C  yers  all  Englond  shall  yt  rewe.  775 

DYS.     Of  the  clergy,  frynds,  report  lyke  as  ye  se, 
That  ther  Privat  Welth  cummyth  ever  in  by  me. 

SED.     But  by  whom  commyst  thu  ?     By  the  messe,  evyn 

by  the  devyll, 
For  the  grownd  thow  art  of  the  Cristen  peplys  evyll ! 

DYS.     And  what  are  yow,  ser?     I  pray  yow  say  good  by 

me.  780 

SED.     By  my  trowth,  I  cum  by  the  and  thy  affynyte. 
DYS.     Feche  thow  in  thy  felow  so  fast  as  ever  thow  can. 
PR.  WELTH.     I   trow  thow   shalt  se  me  now   playe   the 

praty  man. 

Of  me,  Privat  Welth,  cam  fyrst  Usurpyd  Power : 
Ye  may  perseyve  yt  in  pagent  here  this  hower.  785 

SED.     Now  welcum,  felowys,  by  all  thes  bonys  and  naylys! 
Us.  POWER.     Among  companyons   good   felyshyp   never 

faylys. 

SED.     Nay,  Usurpid  Power,  thu  must  go  backe  ageyne, 
For  I  must  also  put  the  to  a  lytyll  payne. 

Us.  POWER.     Why,  fellaue  Sedysyon,  what  wylt  thu  have 

me  do?  790 

SED.     To  bare  me  on  thi  backe  and  bryng  me  in  also, 
That  yt  may  be  sayde  that,  fyrst,  Dyssymulacion 
Browght  in  Privat  Welth  to  every  Cristen  nacion, 
And  that  Privat  Welth  browght  in  Usurpid  Power, 
And  he  Sedycyon,  in  cytye,  towne  and  tower  ;  795 

That  sum  man  may  know  the  feche  of  all  owr  sorte. 

Us.  POWER.     Cum  on  thy  wayes  than,  that  thou  mayst 
make  the  fort. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  553 

DYS.     Nay,  Usurped  Power,  we  shall  bare  hym  all  thre, 
Thy-selfe,  he  and  I,  yf  ye  wyll  be  rewlyd  by  me, 
For  ther  is  non  of  us  but  in  hym  hath  a  stroke.  800 

PR.  WELTH.     The  horson   knave  wayeth  and   yt  were  a 
croked  oke. 

Here  they  shall  bare  hym  in,  and  Sedycyon  saythe  : 

SED.     Yea,  thus  it  shuld  be,  mary,  now  thu  art1  alofte! 
I  wyll  be-shyte  yow  all  yf  ye  sett  me  not  downe  softe. 
In  my  opynyon,  by  swete  Saynt  Antony, 

Here  is  now  gatheryd  a  full  honest  company  :  805 

Here  is  nowther  Awsten,  Ambrose,  Hierom  nor  Gregory, 
But  here  is  a  sorte  of  companyons  moch  more  mery. 
They  of  the  Chirch  than  were  fower  holy  doctors, 
We  of  the  Chirch  now  are  the  iiij  generall  proctors. 
Here  ys,  fyrst  of  all,  good  father  Dyssymulacion,  810 

The  fyrst  begynner  of  this  same  congregation  ; 
Here  is  Privat  Welthe,  which  hath  the  Chyrch  infecte 
With  all  abusyons,  and  brought  yt  to  a  synfull  secte  ; 
Here  ys  Usurpid  Power  that  all  kyngs  doth  subdwe 
With  such  autoryte  as  is  neyther  good  ner  trewe  ;  815 

And  I  last  of  all  am  evyn,  sance  pere,  Sedycyon. 

Us.  POWER.     Under  hevyn  ys  not  a  more  knave  in  con- 

dycyon. 

Wher-as  thu  dost  cum,  that  commonwelth  cannot  thryve. 
By  owr  Lord,  I  marvell  that  thou  art  yet  alyve. 

PR.  WELTH.     Wher  herbes  are  pluckte  upp,  the  wedes 

many  tymes  remayne.  820 

DYS.     No  man  can  utter  an  evydence  more  playn. 

SED.     Yea,  ye    thynke   so,  yow?      Now    Gods    blyssyng 

breke  yowr  heade ! 

I  can  do  but  lawgh  to  here  yow,  by  thys  breade ! 
I  am  so  mery  that  we  are  mett,  by  Saynt  John, 
I  fele  not  the  ground  that  I  do  go  uppon.  825 

For  the  love  of  God,  lett  us  have  sum  mery  songe. 

1  C.  suggests  I  am ;  Kittredge  suggests  assigning  the  line  to  Dyssymu- 
ladon. 


554  JOHN    BALE. 

Us.  POWER.     Begyne  thy-self  than,  and  we  shall  lepe  in 

amonge.  Here  syng. 

SED.     I  wold  ever  dwell  here,  to  have  such  mery  sporte. 
PR.  WELTH.     Thow  mayst   have   yt,  man,  yf  thow  wylt 

hether  resorte, 

For  the  Holy  Father  ys  as  good  a  felowe  as  we.  830 

DYS.     The  Holy  Father?     Why,  pray  the,  whych  is  he? 
PR.  WELTH.     Usurped    Power   here,    which,   thowgh    he 

apparaunt  be 

In  this  apparell,  yet  hathe  he  autoryte 
Bothe  in  hevyn  and  erth,  in  purgatory  and  in  hell. 

Us.  POWER.     Marke  well  his  saynges,  for  a  trew  tale  he 

doth  tell.  835 

SED.     What,  Usurpid  Power?     Cocks  sowle,  ye  are  owr 

Pope? 
Where  is  yowr  thre  crounnys,  yowr  crosse  keys,  and  your 


cope 


What  meanyth  this  mater  ?     Me  thynke  ye  walke  astraye. 

Us.  POWER.     Thow  knowest  I  must  have  sum  dalyaunce 

and  playe, 

For  I  am  a  man  lyke  as  an-other  ys ;  840 

Sumtyme  I  must  hunt,  sumtyme  I  must  Alyson  kys. 
I  am  bold  of  yow,  I  take  ye  for  no  straungers ; 
We  are  as  spirituall,  I  dowght  in  yow  no  daungers. 

DYS.     I  owght  to  conseder  yowr  Holy  Father-hode, 
From  my  fyrst  infancy  ye  have  ben  to  me  so  good.  845 

For  Codes  sake,  wytsave  to  geve  me  yowr  blyssing  here 
A  petia  et  culpa,  that  I  may  stand  this  day  clere. 

Knelt. 

SED.     From  makyng  cuckoldes?  mary,  that  were  no  mery 

chere  ! 

DYS.     A  pena  et  culpa  :  I  trow  thow  canst  not  here. 
SED.     Yea,  with  a  cuckoldes  wyff  ye  have  dronke  dobyll 

bere.  850 

DYS.     I  pray  the,  Sedycyon,  my  pacyens  no  more  stere. 
A  pena  et  culpa  I  desire  to  be  clere, 
And  than  all  the  devylles  of  hell  I  wold  not  fere. 


KYNGE   JOHAN.  555 

Us.   POWER.     But  tell  me  one  thyng  :  dost  thu  not  preche 

the  gospell? 

DYS.     No,  I  promyse  yow,  I  defye  yt  to  the  devyll  of  hell.  855 
Us.  POWER.     Yf  I  knewe  thow  dydest,  thu  shuldest  have 

non  absolucyon. 

DYS.     Yf  I  do,  abjure  me  or  put  me  to  execucyon. 
PR.  WELTH.     I  dare  say  he  brekyth  no  popyshe  consty- 

tucyon. 
Us.  POWER.     Soche  men  are  worthy  to  have  owr  contry- 

bucyon. 

I  assoyle  the  here,  behynde  and  also  beforne!  860 

Now  art  thu  as  clere  as  that  daye  thow  wert  borne. 
Ryse,  Dyssymulacion,  and  stond  uppe  lyke  a  bold  knyght ; 
Dowght  not  of  my  power,  thowgh  my  aparell  be  lyght! 

SED.     A  man,  be  the  masse,  can  not  know  yow  from  a 

knave, 

Ye  loke  so  lyke  hym,  as  1  wold  God  shuld  me  save  !  865 

PR.  WELTH.     Thow   art   very   lewde   owr   father   so    to 

deprave. 

Thowgh  he  for  his  plesure  soche  lyght  apparell  have, 
Yt  is  now  sommer  and  the  heate  ys  withowt  mesure, 
And  among  us  he  may  go  lyght  at  his  owne  plesure. 
Felow  Sedycyon,  thowgh  thu  dost  mocke  and  scoffe,  870 

We  have  other  materes  than  this  to  be  commyned  of. 
Frynd  Dyssymulacion,  why  dost  thu  not  thy  massage, 
And  show  owt  of  Englond  the  causse  of  thi  farre  passage  ? 
Tush,  blemysh  not,  whoreson,  for  I  shall  ever  assyst  the. 

SED.     The  knave  ys  whyght-leveryd,  by  the  Holy  Trynyte  !  875 
Us.  POWER.     Why  so,  Privat  Welth,  what  ys  the  mater? 

Tell  me. 
PR.  WELTH.       Dyssymulacion   ys   a   massanger   for   the 

Clargy ; 

I  must  speke  for  hym,  there  ys  no  remedy. 
The  Clargy  of  Ynglond,  which  ys  yowr  specyall  frynde, 
And  of  a  long  tyme  hath  borne  yow  very  good  mynde,  880 

Fyllyng  yowr  coffers  with  many  a  thowsande  pownde, 
Yf  ye  sett  not  to  hand,  he  ys  lyke  to  fall  to  the  grownde. 


JOHN    BALE. 

I  do  promyse  yow  truly  his  hart  ys  in  his  hose ; 

Kyng  Johan  so  usyth  hym  that  he  reconnyth  all  to  lose. 

Us.    POWER.      Tell,    Dyssymulacion,    why   art    thow    so 

asshamed  885 

To  shewe  thy  massage?     Thow  art  moche  to  be  blamed. 
Late  me  se  those  wrytyngs ;  tush !  man,  I  pray  the  cum  nere. 

Dvs.     Yowr  Horryble  Holynes  putth  me  in  wonderfull  fere. 

Us.  POWER.     Tush !  lett  me  se  them,  I  pray  the  hartely. 

Here  Dissimulacyon  shall  delever  the  tvrytynges  to  Usurpyd  Power. 

I  perseyve  yt  well,  thow  wylt  lose  no  ceremony.  890 

SED.     Yet  is  he  no  lesse  than  a  false  knave  veryly. 
I  wold  thow  haddyst  kyst  hys  ars,  for  that  is  holy. 

PR.  WELTH.     How  dost  thow  prove  me  that  his  arse  ys 

holy  now? 

SED.     For  yt  hath  an  hole,  evyn  fytt  for  the  nose  of  yow. 
PR.  WELTH.     Yowr  parte  ys  not  elles  but  for  .to  playe 

the  knave,  895 

And  so  ye  must  styll  contynew  to  yowr  grave. 

Us.  POWER.     I  saye,  leve  yowr  gawdes,  and  attend  to  me 

this  hower. 

The  bysshoppes  writeth  here  to  me,  Usurped  Power, 
Desyryng  assystence  of  myne  auctoryte 

To  save  and  support  the  Chyrches  lyberte.  900 

They  report  Kyng  Johan  to  them  to  be  very  harde, 
And  to  have  the  Church  in  no  pryce  nor  regarde. 
In  his  parliament  he  demaundeth  of  the  Clargy 
For  his  warres  the  tent  of  the  Chyrches  patrymony. 

PR.  WELTH.     Ye  wyll  not  consent  to   that,    I    trow,  by 

SayntMary!  905 

SED.     No  ;  drawe  to  yow  styll,  but  lett  none  from  yow 

cary ! 
Us.  POWER.     Ye   know   yt   is   cleane   agenst    owr    holy 

decrees 

That  princes  shuld  thus  contempne  owr  lybertees. 
He  taketh  uppon  hym  to  reforme  the.tythes  and  offrynges, 
And  intermedleth  with  other  spyrytuall  thynges.  910 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  557 

PR.  WELTH.     Ye  must  sequester  hym,  or  elles  that  wyll 
mare  all. 

Us.  POWER.     Naye,  besydes  all  this,  before  juges  temporall 
He  conventeth  clarkes  of  cawses  crymynall. 

PR.  WELTH.     Yf  ye  se  not  to  that,  the  Churche  wyll  haue 
a  fall. 

SED.     By  the  masse,  than  pristes  are  lyke  to  have  a  pange ;  91  5 
For  treson,  murder  and  thefte  they  are  lyke  to  hange ! 
By  Cocks  sowle,  than  I  am  lyke  to  walke  for  treasone, 
Yf  I  be  taken ;  loke  to  yt  therfore  in  seasone! 

PR.  WELTH.     Mary,    God   forbyd   that   ever   yowr   holy 

anoynted 

For  tresone  or  thefte  shuld  be  hanged,  racked  or  joynted,         920 
Lyke  the  rascall  sorte  of  the  prophane  layete. 

Us.  POWER.     Naye,  I  shall  otherwyse  loke  to  yt,  ye  may 

trust  me. 

Before  hym-selfe  also  the  bysshopps  he  doth  convent, 
To  the  derogacyon  of  ther  dygnyte  excelent, 
And  wyll  suffer  non  to  the  court  of  Rome  to  appele.  925 

DYS.     No  ;  he  contemnyth  yowr  autoryte  and  seale, 
And  sayth  in  his  lond  he  wyll  be  lord  and  kyng, 
No  prist  so  hardy  to  enterpryse  any-thyng. 
For  the  whych  of  late  with  hym  ware  at  veryaunce 
Fower  of  the  bysshopps,  and,  in  maner,  at  defyaunce,  930 

Wyllyam  of  London,  and  Eustace  bysshope  of  Hely, 
Water  of  Wynchester,  and  Gylys  of  Hartford,  trewly. 
Be  yowr  autoryte  they  have  hym  excommunycate. 

Us.  POWER.     Than   have   they  done  well ;   for  he  is  a 

reprobate ; 

To  that  I  admytt  he  ys  alwayes  contrary :  935 

I  made  this  fellow  here  the  arche-bysshope  of  Canterbery, 
And  he  wyll  agree  therto  in  no  condycion. 

PR.  WELTH.     Than  hath  he  knowlege  that  his  name  ys 
Sedycyon. 

DYS.     Dowtles  he  hath  so,  and  that  drownnyth  his  opynyon. 

Us.  POWER.     Why  do  ye  not  saye  his  name  ys  Stevyn 

Langton?  940 


558  JOHN    BALE. 

Dvs.     Tush !  we  haue  done  so,  but  that  helpyth  not  the 

mater ; 

The  bysshope  of  Norwych  for  that  cawse  doth  hym  flater. 
Us.  POWER.     Styke  thow  to   yt  fast,  we   have   onys  ad- 

mytted  the. 

SED.     I  wyll  not  one  jote  from  my  admyssyon  fle ; 
The  best  of  them  all  shall  know  that  I  am  he. 
Naye,  in  suche  maters  lett  men  be  ware  of  me.  946 

Us.  POWER.     The  monkes  of  Canterbery  ded  more  at  my 

request 
Than  they  wold  at  his  concernyng  that  eleccyon. 

They  chase  Sedycyon,  as  yt  is  now  manyfest, 

In  spytt  of  his  harte ;  than  he  for  ther  rebellyon 
Exyled  them  all,  and  toke  ther  hole  possessyon 

In-to  his  owne  hands,  them  sendyng  over  see 

Ther  lyvyngs  to  seke  in  extreme  poverte.  953 

This  custum  also  he  hath,  as  it  is  told  me  : 

Whan    prelates    depart,  —  yea,    bysshope,    abbott,    or 

curate,  — 
He  entreth  theyr  lands  with-owt  my  lyberte, 

Takyng  the  profyghts  tyll  the  nexte  be  consecrate, 

Instytute,  stallyd,  inducte  or  intronyzate, 
And  of  the  Pyed  Monkes  he  entendeth  to  take  a  dyme. 
All  wyll  be  marryd  yf  I  loke  not  to  yt  in  tyme.  960 

DYS.  Yt  is  takyn,  ser ;  the  some  ys  unresonnable, 
A  nynne  thowsand  marke ;  to  lyve  they  are  not  able. 
His  suggesteon  was  to  subdew  the  Yrysh  men. 

PR.  WELTH.     Yea  that  same  peple  doth  ease  the  Church, 

now  and  then ; 

For  that  enterpryse  they  wold  be  lokyd  uppon.  965 

Us.  POWER.     They  gett   no  mony,  but   they  shall   have 

clene  remyssion, 

For  those  Yrysh  men  are  ever  good  to  the  Church ; 
Whan  kynges  dysobeye  yt,  than  they  begynne  to  worch. 
PR.  WELTH.     And  all  that  they  do  ys  for  indulgence  and 
pardon. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  559 

SED.     By  the  messe,  and  that  is  not  worth  a  rottyn  wardon !  970 
Us.  POWER.     What  care  we  for  that?  to  them  yt  is  venyson. 
PR.  WELTH.     Than   lett   them    haue    yt,    a    Gods    dere 

benyson ! 
Us.  POWER.     Now,  how  shall  we  do  for  this  same  wycked 

kyng? 
SED.     Suspend  hym  and  curse  hym,  both  with  yowr  word 

and  wrytyng. 

Yf  that  wyll  not  helpe,1  than  interdyght  his  lond  975 

With  extreme  cruellnes ;  and  yf  that  wyll  not  stond, 
Cawse  other  prynces  to  revenge  the  Churchys  wronge, 
Yt  wyll  profytt'e  yow  to  sett  them  aworke  amonge. 
For  clene  remyssyon,  one  kyng  wyll  subdew  a-nother, 
Yea,  the  chyld  sumtyme  wyll  sle  both  father  and  mother.          980 
Us.  POWER.     This  cownsell  ys  good ;  I  wyll  now  folow  yt 

playne. 
Tary  thow  styll  here  tyll  we  returne  agayne. 

Here  go  owt  Usurpid  Power  and  Privat  IVelth  and  Sedycyon :  Usurpyd 
Power  shall  drese  for  the  Pope  ;  Privat  IVelth  for  a  Cardynall ;  and 
Sedycyon  for  a  Monke.  The  Cardynall  shall  bryng  in  the  erase,  and 
Stevyn  Launton  the  booke,  bell,  andcandell. 

DYS.     This  Usurpid  Power,  whych  now  is  gon  from  hence, 
For  the  Holy  Church  wyll  make  such  ordynance 

That  all  men  shall  be  under  his  obedyens, 

Yea,  kyngs  wyll  be  glad  to  geve  hym  their  alegyance, 
And  than  shall  we  pristes  lyve  here  withowt  dysturbans ; 

As  Codes  owne  vyker  anon  ye  shall  se  hym  sytt, 

His  flocke  to  avaunse  by  his  most  polytyke  wytt.  989 

He  shall  make  prelates,  both  byshopp  and  cardynall,2 

Doctours  and   prebendes  with    furdewhodes    and   syde 

gownes ; 
He  wyll  also  create  the  orders  monastycall, 

Monkes,  chanons,  and  fryers  with  graye  coates  and  shaven 
crownes, 

1  C.  holpe. 

2  Lines  990-1010  are  an  insertion  in  Bale's  hand. 


560  JOHN    BALE. 

And  buylde  them  places  to  corrupt  cyties  and  townes  ; 
The  dead  sayntes  shall  shewe  both  visyons  and  myracles; 
With  ymages  and  rellyckes  he  shall  wurke  sterracles.  996 

He  wyll  make  mattens,  houres,  masse  and  evensonge, 
To  drowne  the  Scriptures  for  doubte  of  heresye ; 

He  wyll  sende  pardons  to  save  mennys  sowles  amonge, 
Latyne  devocyons  with  the  holye  rosarye ; 
He  wyll  apoynt   fastynges,  and   plucke  downe  matri- 
monye ; 

Holy  water  and  bredde  shall  dryve  awaye  the  devyll  ; 

Blessynges  with  blacke  bedes  wyll  helpe  in  every  evyll.  1003 

Kynge  Johan  of  Englande,  bycause  he  hatli  rebelled 

Agaynst  Holy  Churche,  usynge  it  wurse  than  a  stable, 

To  gyve  up  his  crowne  shall  shortly  be  compelled, 
And  the  Albygeane's,  lyke  heretykes  detestable, 
Shall  be  brent  bycause  agaynst  our  father  they  babble. 

Through  Domynyckes  preachynge  an  xviij  thousande  are 
slayne, 

To  teache  them  how  they  shall  Holye  Churche  disdayne.        1010 

All  this  to  performe  he  wyll  cawse  a  generall  cowncell 
Of  all  Cristendom  to  the  church  of  Laternense. 

His  intent  shall  be  for  to  supprese  the  gospell, 

Yet  wyll  he  glose  yt  with  a  very  good  pretens, 
To  subdwe  the  Turkes  by  a  Cristen  vyolens. 

Under  this  coloure  he  shall  grownd  ther  many  thynges, 

Which  wyll  at  the  last  be  Cristen  mennys  undoynges.  1017 

The  Popys  power  shall  be  abowe  the  powers  all, 

And  eare-confessyon  a  matere  nesssssary ; 
Ceremonys  wyll  be  the  ryghtes  ecclesyastycall ; 

He  shall  sett  up  there  both  pardowns  and  purgatory ; 

The  gospell  prechyng  wyll  be  an  heresy. 
Be  this  provyssyon,  and  be  soch  other  kyndes, 
We  shall  be  full  suere  allwaye  to  have  owr  myndes.  1024 

[Enter  Usurped  Power  as  the  Pope  "jjith  Privat  If  ~elth  as  a  Cardinal  and 
Stdycyon  as  a  Monk.] 


KYNGE   JOHAN.  561 

POPE.     Ah,  ye  are  a  blabbe  !    I  perseyve  ye  wyll  tell  all ; 
I  lefte  ye  not  here  to  be  so  lyberall. 

DYS.     Mea  culpa,  mea  c^llpa,  gravissima  mea  culpa  ! 
Geve  me  yowr  blyssyng ^r<?  Deo  et  sancta  Maria! 

Knele  and  knoke  on  the  tryst. 

POPE.     Thou  hast  my  blyssyng.     Aryse  now,  and  stond 

a-syde. 

DYS.     My  skyn  ys  so  thyke,  yt  wyll  not  throw  glyde.  1030 

POPE.     Late  us  goo  abowght  owr  other  materes  now. 

Say  this  all  thre  : 

[ALL.]     We  wayte  her  upon  the  greate  holynes  of  yow. 

POPE.     For  as  moch  as  Kyng  Johan  doth  Holy  Church 

so  handle, 

Here  I  do  curse  hym  wyth  crosse,  boke,  bell  and  candle : 
Lyke  as  this  same  roode  turneth  now  from  me  his  face,  1035 

So  God  I  requyre  to  sequester  hym  of  his  grace ; 
As  this  boke  doth  speare  by  my  worke  mannuall, 
I  wyll  God  to  close  uppe  from  hym  his  benefyttes  all ; 
As  this  burnyng  flame  goth  from  this,  candle  in  syght, 
I  wyll  God  to  put  hym  from  his  eternall  lyght ;  1 040 

I  take  hym  from  Crist,  and,  after  the  sownd  of  this  bell, 
Both  body  and  sowle  I  geve  hym  to  the  devyll  of  hell ; 
I  take  from  hym  baptym,  with  the  other  sacramentes 
And  sufferages  of  the  Churche,  bothe  amber-dayes  and  lentes  ; 
Here  I  take  from  hym  bothe  penonce  and  confessyon,  1045 

Masse  of  the  v  wondes,  with  sensyng  and  processyon ; 
Here  I  take  from  hym  holy  water  and  holy  brede, 
And  never  wyll  them  to  stande  hym  in  any  sted. 
This  thyng  to  publyshe  I  constytute  yow  thre, 
Gevyng  yow  my  power  and  my  full  autoryte.  1050 

Say  this  all  thre : 

[ALL.]     With  the  grace  of  God,  we  shall  performe  yt  than. 
POPE.     Than  gett  yow  foreward  so  fast  as  ever  ye  can 
Uppon  a  bone  vyage  ;  yet  late  us  syng  meryly. 

SED.     Than  begyne  the  song,  and  we  shall  folow  gladly. 

Here  they  shall  syxf.1 
1  The  song  is  not  given. 


562  JOHN    BALE. 

POPE.     To  colour  this  thyng  thow  shalte  be  callyd  Pan- 

dulphus ;  1055 

Thow  Stevyn  Langton  ;  thy  name  shall  be  Raymundus. 
Fyrst,  thou,  Pandolphus,  shall  opynly  hym  suspend 
With  boke,  bell  and  candle  ;  yff  he  wyll  not  so  amend, 
Interdycte  his  lande,  and  the  churches  all  up-speare. 

PR.  WELTH.     I  have  my  massage ;  to  do  yt  I  wyll  not 

f  eare.  1 060 

Here  go  owt  and  dresefor  Nobylyte. 

POPE.     And  thow,  Stevyn  Langton,  cummand  the  byssh- 

oppes  all 

So  many  to  curse  as  are  to  hym  benefycyall, 
Dwkes,  erles  and  lords,  wherby  they  may  forsake  hym. 

SED.     Sur,  I  wyll  do  yt,  and  that,  I  trow,  shall  shake  hym. 

POPE.     Raymundus,  go  thow  forth  to  the  Crysten  princes 

all:  1065 

Byd  them  in  my  name  that  they  uppon  hym  fall 
Bothe  with  fyre  and  sword,  that  the  Churche  may  hym  con- 
quarre. 

DYS.     Yowr  plesur  I  wyll  no  longar  tyme  defarre. 

POPE.  Saye  this  to  them  also :  Pope  Innocent  the  Thred 
Remyssyon  of  synnes  to  so  many  men  hath  granted  1070 

As  wyll  do  ther  best  to  slee  hym  yf  they  may. 

DYS.     Sur,  yt  shall  be  don  with-owt  ony  lenger  delay. 

POPE.     In  the  meane  season  I  shall  soch  gere  avaunce, 
As  wyll  be  to  us  a  perpetuall  furderaunce : 

Fyrst,  eare-confessyon,  than  pardons,  than  purgatory,  1075 

Sayntes-worchyppyng  than,  than  sekyng  of  ymagery, 
Than  Laten  servyce,  with  the  cerymonyes  many, 
Wherby  owr  bysshoppes  and  abbottes  shall  gett  mony. 
I  wyll  make  a  law  to  burne  all  herytykes, 

And  kyngs  to  depose  whan  they  are  sysmatykes.  1080 

I  wyll  ail-so  reyse  up  the  fower  beggyng  orders, 
That  they  may  preche  lyes  in  all  the  Cristen  borders. 
For  this  and  other,  I  wyll  call  a  generall  cownsell 
To  ratyfye  them  in  lyke  strength  with  the  gospell.  1084 


KYNGE  JOHAN.  563 

THE  INTERPRETOUR.1 

In  thys  present  acte  we  have  to  yow  declared, 

As  in  a  myrrour,  the  begynnynge  of  Kynge  Johan, 

How  he  was  of  God  a  magistrate  appoynted 

To  the  governaunce  of  thys  same  noble  regyon, 
To  see  mayntayned  the  true  faythe  and  relygyon ; 

But  Satan  the  Devyll,  whych  that  tyme  was  at  large, 

Had  so  great  a  swaye  that  he  coulde  it  not  discharge.  1091 

Upon  a  good  zele  he  attempted  very  farre 

For  welthe  of  thys  realme  to  provyde  reformacyon 

In  the  Churche  therof,  but  they  ded  hym  debarre 

Of  that  good  purpose  ;  for,  by  excommunycacyon, 
The  space  of  vij  yeares  they  interdyct  thy[s]  nacyon. 

These  bloudsuppers  thus,  of  crueltie  and  spyght, 

Subdued  thys  good  kynge  for  executynge  ryght.  1098 

In  the  second  acte  thys  wyll  apeare  more  playne, 
Wherin  Pandulphus  shall  hym  excommunycate 

Within  thys  hys  lande,  and  depose  hym  from  hys  reigne. 
All  other  princes  they  shall  move  hym  to  hate, 
And  to  persecute  after  most  cruell  rate. 

They  wyll  hym  poyson  in  their  malygnyte, 

And  cause  yll  report  of  hym  alwayes  to  be.  1105 

This  noble  Kynge  Johan,  as  a  faythfull  Moyses, 
Withstode  proude  Pharo  for  hys  poore  Israel, 

Myndynge  to  brynge  yt  owt  of  the  lande  of  darkenesse, 
But  the  Egyptyanes  did  agaynst  hym  so  rebell  . 
That  hys  poore  people  ded  styll  in  the  desart  dwell, 

Tyll  that  duke  Josue,  whych  was  our  late  Kynge  Henrye, 

Clerely  brought  us  in-to  the  lande  of  mylke  and  honye.  1112 

As  a  strong  David,  at  the  voyce  of  Verytie, 

Great  Golye,  the  Pope,  he  strake  downe  with  hys  slynge, 
Restorynge  agayns  to  a  Christen  lybertie 

1  Lines  1085-1119  are  an  insertion  in  Bale's  hand. 


564  JOHN    BALE. 

Hys  lande  and  people,  lyke  a  most  vyctoryouse  kynge ; 

To  hir  first  bewtye  intendynge  the  Churche  to  brynge, 
From  ceremonyes  dead  to  the  lyvynge  wurde  of  the  Lorde. 
Thys  the  seconde  acte  wyll  plenteously  recorde.  1119 

Finit  Actus  Primus. 

\Jncipit  Actus  Secundus.~\ 

Here  the  Pope 1  go  mvt,  and  Sedycyon  -  and  Nobylyte  cunt  in  and  say : 

NOB.     It  petyeth  my  hart  to  se  the  controvercye 
That  now-a-dayes  reygnethe  betwyn  the  kyng  and  the  clargy. 
All  Cantorbery  monks  are  now  the  realme  exyled, 
The  prysts  and  bysshopps  contyneally  3  revyled, 
The  Cystean  monkes  are  in  soche  perplexyte 
That  owt  of  Englond  they  reken  all  to  flee.  1 125 

I  lament  the  chaunce,  as  I  wold  God  shuld  me  save. 

SED.     Yt  is  gracyously  sayd ;  Codes  blyssyng  myght  ye 

have! 

Blyssyd  is  that  man  that  wyll  graunte  or  condyssend 
To  helpe  relygyon,  or  Holy  Churche  defend. 

NOB.     For  ther  mayntenance  I  have  gevyn  londes  full 

fayer,  1130 

I  have  dysheryted  many  a  laufull  ayer. 

SED.     Well,  yt  is  yowr   owne  good ;  God   shall  reward 

yow  for  ytt, 
And  in  hevyn  full  hyghe  for  soch  good   workes  shall    ye 

sytt. 

NOB.     Yowr  habyte  showyth  ye  to  be  a  man  of  relygeon. 
SED.     I  am  no  worse,  sur ;  my  name  is  Good  Perfectyon.   1135 
NOB.     I  am  the  more  glad  to  be  aquented  with  ye. 
SED.     Ye  show  yowr-selfe  here  lyke  a  noble-man,  as  ye 

be. 
I  perseyve  ryght  well  yowr  name  ys  Nobelyte. 

NOB.     Yowr  servont  and  Umfrey!  of  trewthe,  father,  I 
am  he. 

1  Apparently  the  Pope  -went  out  after  1.  1084. 

2  MS.  Dyssymulatyon  ;  corr.  by  C. 
8  C.  contymeally. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  $65 

SED.     From  Innocent,  the  Pope,  I  am  cum  from  Rome 

evyn  now.  1 140 

A  thowsand  tymes,  I  wene,  he  commendyth  hym  unto  yow, 
And  sent  yow  clene  remyssyon  to  take  the  Chyrches  parte. 

NOB.     I  thanke  his  Holynes,  I  shall  do  yt  with  all  my  harte. 
Yf  ye  wold  take  paynes  for  heryng  my  confessyon, 
I  wold  owt  of  hand  resayve  this  cleane.  remyssyon.  1145 

SED.     Mary,  with  all  my  hart,  I  wyll  be  full  glad  to  do  ytt. 

NOB.     Put  on  yowr  stolle  then,  and,  I  pray  yow  in  Codes 
name,  sytt. 

Here  sett  dtrwne,  and  Nobelyte  shall  say  benedycyte. 

NOB.     Benedicite. 

SED.  Z?[o]w[i]w[u]j.-     In  nomine  Domini 

Pape,  amen .' 
Say  forth  yowr  mynd,  in  Codes  name. 

NOB.     I  have    synnyd   a-gaynst  God ;    I    knowlege  my- 

selfe  to  blame  :  1 1 50 

In  the  vij  dedly  synnys  I  have  offendyd  sore ; 
Codes  ten  commandyments  I  have  brokyn  ever-more ; 
My  v  boddyly  wytes  I  have  ongodly  kepte ; 
The  workes  of  charyte  in  maner  I  have  owt-slepte. 

SED.     I  trust  ye  beleve  as  Holy  Chyrch  doth  teache  ye,      1155 
And  from  the  new  lernyng  ye  are  wyllyng  for  to  fle. 

NOB.     From  the  new  lernyng!  mary,  God  of  hevyn  save 

me ! 
I  never  lovyd  yt  of  a  chyld,  so  mote  I  the ! 

SED.     Ye  can  say  yowr  crede,  and  yowr  Laten  Ave  Mary? 

NOB.    Yea,  and  dyrge  also,  with  sevyn  psalmes  and  letteny.   1 160 

SED.     Do  ye  not  beleve  in  purgatory  and  holy  bred? 

NOB.     Yes,  and  that  good  prayers  shall  stand  my  soule  in 
stede. 

SED.     Well  than,  good  enowgh ;  I  warant  my  soulle  for 
yowr! 

NOB.     Than  execute  on  me  the  Holy  Fatheres  power. 

SED.     Naye,  whyll  I  have  yow  here  underneth  benedtcite, 
In  the  Popes  behalf e  I  must  move  other  thynges  to  ye. 


566  JOHN    BALE. 

NOB.     In  the  name  of  God,  saye  here  what  ye  wyll  to 

me.  1167 

SED.     Ye  know  that  Kyng  Johan  ys  a  very  wycked  man, 

And  to  Holy  Chyrch  a  contynuall  adversary. 
The  Pope  wyllyth  yow  to  do  the  best  ye  canne 

To  his  subduyng  for  his  cruell  tyranny ; 

And  for  that  purpose  this  privylege  gracyously 
Of  clene  remyssyon  he  hath  sent  yow  this  tyme, 
Clene  to  relesse  yow  of  all  yowr  synne  and  cryme.  1 1 74 

NOB.     Yt  is  clene  agenst  the  nature  of  Nobelyte 
To  subdew  his  kyng  with-owt  Codes  autoryte ; 
For  his  princely  estate  and  power  ys  of  God. 
I  wold  gladly  do  ytt,  but  I  fere  his  ryghtfull  rode. 

SED.     Codes  holy  vycare  gave  me  his  whole  autoryte : 
Loo!  yt  is  here,  man;  beleve  yt,  I  beseche  the,  1180 

Or  elles  thow  wylte  faulle  in  danger  of  damnacyon. 

NOB.     Than  I  submyt  me  to  the  Chyrches  reformacyon. 

SED.     I  assoyle  the  here  from  the  kynges  obedyence 
By  the  auctoryte  of  the  Popys  Magnifycence  : 
Auctoritate  Roma  in  pontyficis  ego  absolvo  te  1185 

[Aside]   From  all  possessyons  gevyn  to  the  spiritualte, 
In  nomine  Domini  Pape,  amen! 
Kepe  all  thynges  secrett,  I  pray  yow  hartely.       Go  ^t  Nobelyte. 

NOB.     Yes,    that   I    wyll,   sur,  and   cum  agayne   hether 
shortly. 

Here  enter  Clargy  and  Cyvyll  Order  *  together,  and  Sedysyon  shall  go  up 
and  down  a  praty  whyle. 

CLARGY.    Ys  not  yowr  Fatherhod  Archbysshope  of  Can- 

terbery?  1190 

SED.     I  am  Stevyn  Langton.    Why  make  ye  here  inquyry? 

Knele  and  say  both : 

[CLARGY  AND  C.  ORDER.]     Ye  are  ryght  welcum  to  this 
same  regyon  trewly. 

1  /  shall  mark  the  speeches  of  CIVIL  ORDER  -with  S.  ORDER  or  C. 
ORDER  according  as  MS.  has  Syvyll  or  Cyvyll. 


KYNGE   JOHAN.  567 

SED.     Stond  up,  I  pray  yow.     I  trow,  thu  art  the  Clargy. 

CLARGY.     I  am  the  same,  sur ;  and  this  is  Cyvyle  Order. 

SED.     Yf  a  man  myght  axe  yow,  what  make  yow  in  this 

border?  1195 

CLARGY.     I  herd  tell  yester-daye  ye  were  cum  in-to  the 

land ; 
I  thowght  for  to  se  yow,  sum  newes  to  understand. 

SED.     In  fayth  thow  art  welcum ;  ys  Cyvyll  Order  thy 
frynd? 

CLARGY.     He  is  a  good  man,  and  beryth  the  Chyrch  good 
'    vnd. 

C.  ORDER.     Ryght  sory  I  am  of  the  great  controvarsy        1200 
Betwyn  hym  and  the  kyng,  yf  I  myght  yt  remedy. 

SED.     Well,  Cyvyll  Order,  for  thy  good  wyll  gramercy ! 
That  mater  wyll  be  of  an  other  facyon  shortly. 
Fyrst,  to  begyne  with,  we  shall  interdyte  the  lond. 

C.  ORDER.     Mary,  God  forbyde  we  shuld  be  in  soche 

bond!  1205 

But  who  shall  do  yt,  I  pray  yow  hartyly? 

SED.     Pandulphus  and  I ;  we  have  yt  in  owr  legacy. 
He  went  to  the  kyng  for  that  cawse  yester-daye, 
And  I  wyll  folow  so  fast  as  ever  I  maye. 
Lo,  here  ys  the  bull  of  myn  auctoryte!  1210 

CLARGY.     I  pray  God  to  save  the  Popes  Holy  Maieste. 

SED.     Sytt  downe  on  yowr   kneys,   and  ye  shall   have 

absolucion 

A  pena  et  culpa,  with  a  thowsand  dayes  of  pardon. 
Here  ys  fyrst  a  bone  of  the  Blyssyd  Trynyte ; 
A  dram  of  the  tord  of  swete  Seynt  Barnabe  ;  1 31 5 

Here  ys  a  fedder  of  good  Seynt  Myhelles  wyng ; 
A  toth  of  Seynt  Twyde ;  a  pece  of  Davyds  harpe-stryng ; 
The  good  blood  of  Haylys  ;  and  Owr  Blyssyd  Ladys  mylke  ; 
A  lowse  of  Seynt  Frauncis  in  this  same  crymsen  sylke  ; 
A  scabbe  of  Seynt  Job  ;  a  nayle  of  Adams  too  ;  1220 

A  maggot  of  Moyses;  with  a  fart  of  Saynt  Fandigo; 
Here  is  a  fygge-leafe  and  a  grape  of  Noes  vyneyearde ; 
A  bede  of  Saynt  Blythe  ;  with  the  bracelet  of  a  berewarda  ; 


568  JOHN    BALE. 

The  devyll  that  was  hatcht  in  Maistre  Johan  Shornes  bote. 

That  the  tree  of  Jesse  did  plucke  up  by  the  roote ;  1225 

Here  ys  the  lachett  of  swett  Seynt  Thomas  shewe ; 

A  rybbe  of  Seynt  Rabart ;  with  the  huckyll-bone  of  a  Jewe  ; 

Here  ys  a  joynt  of  Darvell  Gathyron ; 

Besydes  other  bonys  and  relyckes  many  one. 

In  nomine  Domini  Pape,  amen  !  1 230 

Aryse  now  lyke  men,  and  stande  uppon  yowr  fete, 

For  here  ye  have  caught  an  holy  and  a  blyssyd  hete. 

Ye  are  now  as  clene  as  that  day  ye  were  borne, 

And  lyke  to  have  increase  of  chylderne,  catell   and  corne. 

C.  ORDER.     Chyldryn  he  can  have  non,  for  he  ys  not  of 

that  loade.  1235 

SED.     Tushe,  thowgh  he  hath  non  at  home,  he  may  have 

sume  abroade! 

Now,  Clargy,  my  frynd,  this  must  thow  do  for  the  Pope, 
And  for  Holy  Chyrch  :  thow  must  mennys  conscyence  grope, 
And  as  thow  felyst  them,  so  cause  them  for  to  wurke : 
Leat  them  show  Kyng  Johan  no  more  faver  than  a  Turke ;     1240 
Every-wher  sture  them  to  make  an  insurreccyon.1 

CLARGY.    All  that  shall  I  do  ;  and,  to  provoke  them  more. 
This  interdyccyon  I  wyll  lament  very  sore 
In  all  my  prechyngs,  and  saye  throwgh  his  occasyon 
All  we  are  under  the  danger  of  dampnacyon.  1245 

And  this  wyll  move  peple  to  helpe  to  put  hym  downe, 
Or  elles  compell  hym  to  geve  up  septur  and  crowne. 
Yea,  and  that  wyll  make  those  kynges  that  shall  succede 
Of  the  Holy  Chyrche  to  stond  evermore  in  drede. 
And,  by-sydes  all  this,  the  chyrch-dores  I  wyll  up-seale,  1250 

And  closse  up  the  bells  that  they  ryng  never  a  pele ; 
I  wyll  spere  up  the  chalyce,  crysmatory,  crosse,  and  all, 
That  masse  they  shall  have  non,  baptym  nor  beryall, 
And  thys,  I  know  well,  wyll  make  the  peple  madde. 

SED.     Mary,  that  yt  wyll ;  soche  sauce  he  never  had.          1255 

1  There  is  nothing  to  indicate  that  a  line  rhyming  with  this  has  been 
lost,  and  it  seems  better  to  suppose  that  the  line  never  had  a  mate  than  to 
emend  insurreccyon  to  uproar. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  569 

And  what  wylte  thow  do  for  Holy  Chyrche,  Cyvyll  Order? 

S.  ORDER.     For  the  Clargyes  sake,  I  wyll  in  every  border 
Provoke  the  gret  men  to  take  the  commonys  parte. 
With  cautyllys  of  the  lawe  I  wyll  so  tyckle  ther  hart, 
They  shall  thynke  all  good  that  they  shall  passe  upon,  1260 

And  so  shall  we  cum  to  ower  full  intent  anon ; 
For  yf  the  Church  thryve,  than  do  we  lawers  thryve, 
And  yf  they  decay,  ower  welth  ys  not  alyve. 
Therfore  we  must  helpe  yowr  state,  masters,  to  uphold, 
Or  elles  owr  profyttes  wyll  cache  a  wynter  colde.  1265 

I  never  knew  lawer  whych  had  ony  crafty  lernyng 
That  ever  escapte  yow  with-owt  a  plentyows  levyng ; 
Therfore  we  may  not  leve  Holy  Chyrchys  quarell, 
But  ever  helpe  yt,  for  ther  fall  ys  owr  parell. 

SED.     Gods  blyssyng  have  ye  !  this  gere  than  wyll  worke, 

I  trust.  1270 

S.  ORDER.    Or  elles  sum  of  us  are  lyke  to  lye  in  the  dust. 

SED.     Let  us  all  avoyde ;  be  the  messe,  the  kyng  cum- 
myth  here ! 

CLARGY.     I  wold  hyde  my-selfe  for  a  tyme,  yf  I  wyst 
where. 

S.  ORDER.     Gow  we  hence  apace,  for  I  have  spyed  a 

corner.  1274 

Here  go  owt  all,  and  Kyngjohan  cunnnyth  in. 

K.  JOHAN.      For  non  other  cawse  God    hath    kyngs  con- 
stytute 

And  gevyn  them  the  sword  but  forto  correct  all  vyce. 
I  have  attempted  this  thyng  to  execute 

Uppon  transgressers  accordyng  unto  justyce  ; 

And  be-cawse  I  wyll  not  be  parcyall  in  myn  offyce 
For  theft  and  murder  to  persones  spirytuall, 
I  have  ageynst  me  the  pristes  and  the  bysshoppes  all.  1281 

A  lyke  dysplesure  in  my  fathers  tyme  ded  fall, 

Forty  yeres  ago,  for  ponyshment  of  a  clarke ; 

No  cunsell  myght  them  to  reformacyon  call, 

In  ther  openyon  they  were  so  stordy  and  starke, 

But  ageynst  ther  prynce  to  the  Pope  they  dyd  so  barke 


5/O  JOHN    BALE. 

That  here  in  Ynglond  in  every  cyte  and  towne 
Excommunycacyons  as  thonder-bolts  cam  downe.  1288 

For  this  ther  captayn  had  a  ster-apared  crowne, 

And  dyed  upon  yt  with-owt  the  kynges  consent. 

Than  interdiccyons  were  sent  from  the  Popes  Renowne, 
Whych  never  left  hym  tyll  he  was  penytent, 
And  fully  agreed  unto  the  Popes  apoyntment, 

In  Ynglond  to  stand  with  the  Chyrches  lyberte, 

And  suffer  the  pristes  to  Rome  for  appeles  to  flee.  1295 

They  bownd  hym  also  to  helpe  Jerusalem  cyte 

With  ij  hundrid  men  the  space  of  a  yere  and  more, 

And  thre  yere  after  to  maynteyne  battell  free 

Ageynst  the  Sarazens  whych  vext  the  Spanyards  sore. 
Synce  my  fathers  tyme  I  have  borne  them  groge  ther- 
fore, 

Consyderyng  the  pryde  and  the  capcyose  dysdayne 

That  they  have  to  kyngs  whych  oughte  over  them  to  rayne.    1302 

Privat  Welth  cum  in  lyke  a  Cardynall. 

God  save  you,  sur  Kyng,  in  yowr  pryncly  mageste ! 

K.  JOHAN.     Frynd,  ye  be  welcum  ;  what  is  yowr  plesure 

with  me? 
PR.  WELTH.     From  the  Holy  Father,  Pope  Innocent  the 

Thred, 

As  a  massanger  I  am  to  vow  dyrectyd, 
To  reforme  the  peace  betwyn  Holy  Chyrch  and  yow, 
And  in  his  behalfe  I  avertyce  yow  here  now 
Of  the  Chyrchys  goods  to  make  full  restytucyon, 
And  to  accepte  also  the  Popes  holy  a  constytucyon  1310 

For  Stevyn  Langton,  archebysshop  of  Canturbery, 
And  so  admytt  hym  to  his  state  and  primacy ; 
The  monkes  exilyd  ye  shall  restore  agayne 
To  ther  placys  and  londes,  and  nothyng  of  thers  retayne. 
Owr  Holy  Fatheres  mynde  ys  that  ye  shall  agayne  restore      1315 
All  that  ye  have  ravyshyd  from  Holy  Chyrche  with  the  more. 

1  C.  hely. 


KYNGE   JOHAN.  5/1 

K.  JOHAN.     I  reken  yowr  father  wyll  never  be  so  harde 
But  he  wyll  my  cawse  as  well  as  theres  regarde. 
I  have  done  nothyng  but  that  I  may  do  well, 
And  as  for  ther  taxe  I  have  for  me  the  gospel!'.  1320 

PR.  WELTH.     Tushe,  gospell   or   no,  ye  must   make  a 
recompens ! 

K.  JOHAN.     Yowr  father  is  sharpe  and  very  quycke    in 

sentence, 

Yf  he  wayeth  the  word  of  God  no  more  than  so ; 
But  I  shall  tell  yow  in  this  what  Y  shall  do  : 

I  am  well  content  to  receyve  the  monkes  agayne  1325 

Upon  amendement ;  but  as  for  Stevyn  Langton,  playne, 
He  shall  not  cum  here,  for  I  know  his  dysposycyon, 
He  is  moche  inclyned  to  sturdynesse  and  sedycyon. 
There  shall  no  man  rewle  in  the  lond  where  I  am  kyng 
With-owt  my  consent,  for  no  mannys  plesure  lyvyng.  133° 

Never-the-lesse,  yet,  upon  a  newe  behaver, 
At  the  Popys  request  here- after  I  may  hym  faver, 
And  graunt  hym  to  have  sum  other  benyfyce. 

PR.  WELTH.     By  thys  I  perseyve  ye  bare  hym  groge  and 

malyce. 

Well,  thys  wyll  I  say  by-cause  ye  are  so  blunte  :  1335 

A  prelate  to  dyscharge,  Holy  Chyrche  was  never  wont, 
But  her  custome  ys  to  mynyster  ponyshment 
To  kynges  and  princes  beyng  dyssobedyent. 

K.  JOHAN.     Avant,    pevysh   prist !      What !   dost  thow 

thretten  me? 

I  defye  the  worst  both  of  thi  Pope  and  the!  1340 

The  power  of  princys  ys  gevyn  from  God  above, 
And,  as  sayth  Salomon,  ther  harts  the  Lord  doth  move ; 
God  spekyth  in  ther  lyppes  whan  they  geve  jugement ; 
The  lawys  that  they  make  are  by  the  Lordes  appoyntment. 
Christ  wylled  not  his1  the  princes  to  correcte,  1345 

But  to  ther  precepptes  rether  to  be  subjecte. 
The  offyce  of  yow  ys  not  to  bere  the  sword, 
But  to  geve  cownsell  accordyng  to  Gods  word. 

1  One  -would  be  inclined  to  insert  apostles  but  for  1.  1349. 


5/2  JOHN    BALE. 

He  never  tawght  his  to  weare  nowther  sword  ne  sallett, 

But  to  preche  abrode  with-owt  staffe,  scrypp  or  walett;  1350 

Yet  are  ye  becum  soche  myghty  lordes  this  hower 

That  ye  are  able  to  subdewe  all  princes  power. 

I  can  not  perseyve  but  ye  are  becum  Belles  prystes, 

Lyvyng  by  ydolls,  yea,  the  very  Antychrysts. 

PR.  WELTH.     Ye  have  sayd  yowr  mynd,  now  wyll  I  say 

myn  also.  1355 

Here  I  cursse  yow  for  the  wrongs  that  ye  have  do 
Unto  Holy  Churche,  with  crosse,  bocke,  bell  and  candell ; 
And,  by-sydes  all  thys,  I  must  yow  other-wyse  handell : 
Of  contumacy  the  Pope  hath  yow  convyt; 

From  this  day  forward  yowr  lond  stond  interdytt.  1360 

The  bysshope  of   Norwyche  and  the  bysshope  of   Wyn- 

ch  ester, 

Hath  full  autoryte  to  spred  it  in  Ynglond  here ; 
The  bysshope  of  Salysbery  and  the  bysshope  of  Rochester 
Shall  execute  yt  in  Scotland  every-where ; 

The  bysshope  of  Landaffe,  Seynt  Assys  and  Seynt  Davy        1365 
In  Walles  and  in  Erlond  shall  puplyshe  yt  openly ; 
Throwgh-owt  all  Crystyndom  the  bysshopps  shall  suspend 
All  soche  as  to  yow  any  mayntenance  pretend ; 
And  I  cursse  all  them  that  geve  to  yow  ther  harte, 
Dewks,  erlls  and  lordes,  so  many  as  take  yowr  parte;  1370 

And  I  assoyle  yowr  peple  from  yowr  obedyence, 
That  they  shall  owe  yow  noyther  fewte  l  nor  reverence  ; 
By  the  Popys  awctoryte  I  charge  them  yow  to  fyght 
As  with  a  tyrant  agenst  Holy  Chyrchys  ryght ; 
And  by  the  Popes  auctoryte  I  geve  them  absolucyon  1375 

A  pena  et  culpa,  and  also  clene  remyssyon. 

SED.  (extra  locum)    Alarum  !  Alarum  !  tro  ro  ro  ro  ro  !  tro 

ro  ro  ro  ro  !  tro  ro  ro  ro  ro  ! 
Thomp,  thomp,  thomp  !  downe,  downe,  downe  !  to  go,  to  go, 

to  go ! 
K.  JOHAN.     What  a  noyse  is  thys  that  without  the  dore 

is  made? 

1  C.  sewte. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  573 

PR.  WELTH.     Suche  enmyes  are  up  as  wyll  your  realme 

invade.  1380 

K.  JOHAN.     Ye  cowde  do  no  more  and  ye  cam  from  the 

devyll  of  hell 

Than  ye  go  abowt  here  to  worke  by  yowr  wyckyd  cownsell! 
Ys  this  the  charyte  of  that  ye  call  the  Churche? 
God  graunt  Cristen  men  not  after  yowr  wayes  to  worche ! 
I  sett  not  by  yowr  curssys  the  shakyng  of  a  rod,  1385 

For  I  know  they  are  of  the  devyll  and  not  of  God. 
Yowr  curssys  we  have  that  we  never  yet  demaundyd, 
But  we  can  not  have  that  God  hath  yow  commandyd. 

PR.  WELTH.     What  ye  mene  by  that  I  wold  ye  shuld 

opynly  tell. 
K.  JOHAN.     Why,  know  ye  it  not?  the  prechyng  of  the 

gospell.  1390 

Take  to  ye  yowr  traysh,  yowr  ryngyng,  syn[g]y[n]g,  pypyng, 
So  that  we  may  have  the  Scryptures  openyng ; 
But  that  we  can  not  have,  yt  stondyth  not  with  yowr  avan- 

tage. 
PR.  WELTH.     Ahe !  now  I  tell 1  yow,  for  this  heretycall 

langage, 

I  thynke  noyther  yow  nor  ony  of  yowres,  iwys, —  1395 

We  wyll  so  provyd,  —  shall  ware  the  crowne  after  this. 

Go  tnvt  and  drese  for  Nobylyte. 

K.  JOHAN.     Yt  becum  not  the,  Codes  secret  workes  to 

deme. 

Gett  the  hence,  or  elles  we  shall  teche  the  to  blaspheme ! 
Oh  Lord,  how  wycked  ys  that  same  generacyon 
That  never  wyll  cum  to  a  godly  reformacyon!  1400 

The  prystes  report  me  to  be  a  wyckyd  tyrant, 
Be-cause  I  correct  ther  actes  and  lyfe  unplesant. 
Of  thy  prince,  sayth  God,  thow  shalt  report  non  yll, 
But  thy-selfe  applye  his  plesur  to  fulfyll. 

The  byrdes  of  the  ayer  shall  speke  to  ther  gret  shame,  1405 

As  sayth  Ecclesyastes,  that  wyll  a  prince  dyffame. 
The  powers  are  of  God,  —  I  wot  Powle  hath  soch  sentence,  - — 
i  C.  fell 


574  JOHN    BALE. 

He  that  resyst  them,  agenst  God  maketh  resystence. 

Mary  and  Joseph  at  Cyryns1  appoyntment 

In  the  descripcyon  to  Cesar  were  obedyent.  1410 

Crist  ded  paye  trybute  for  hymselfe  and  Peter,  to, 

For  a  lawe  prescrybyng  the  same  unto  pristes  also. 

To  prophane  princes  he  obeyed  unto  dethe ; 

So  ded  John  Baptyst  so  longe  as  he  had  brethe. 

Peter,  John  and  Powle,  with  the  other  apostles  all,  1415 

Ded  never  withstand  the  powers  imperyall. 

[Enter  Syvyll  Order. ~\ 

Prystes  are  so  wycked  they  wyll  obeye  no  power, 

But  seke  to  subdewe  ther  prynces  day  and  hower, 

As  they  wold  do  me ;  but  I  shall  make  them  smart, 

Yf  that  Nobelyte  and  Law  wyll  take  my  parte.  1420 

S.  ORDER.     Dowghtles  we  can  not  tyll  ye  be  reconsylyd 
Unto  Holy  Chyrche,  for  ye  are  a  man  defylyd. 

K.  JOHAN.     How  am  I  defylyd?    Tel  me,2  good  gentyll 

mate ! 

S.  ORDER.    By  the  Popes  hye  power  ye  are  excomynycate. 
K.  JOHAN.     By  the  word  of  God,  I  pray  the,  what  power 

hath  he?  1425 

S.  ORDER.     I  spake  not  with  hym,  and  therfore  I  cannot 

tell  ye. 
K.  JOHAN.     With  whom  spake  ye  not?   late   me   know 

yowr  intent. 

S.  ORDER.     Mary,  not  with  God  sens  the  latter  weeke  of 
Lent. 

\Enter  Clargy^ 

K.  JOHAN.     Oh  mercyfull  God,  what  an  unwyse  clawse  ys 

this, 

Of  hym  that  shuld  se  that  nothyng  ware  amys  !  1430 

That  sentence  or  curse  that  Scriptur  doth  not  dyrect 
In  my  opynyon  shall  be  of  non  effecte. 

CLARGY.     Ys  that  yowr  beleve?     Mary,    God   save  me 
'  from  yow ! 

1  C.  Cyryus.  2  C.  telme. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  575 

K.  JOHAN.     Prove  yt  by  Scriptur,  and  than  wyll    I    yt 

alowe. 

But  this  know  I  well,  whan  Baalam  gave  the  curse  1435 

Uppon  Codes  peple  they  ware  never  a  whyt  the  worse. 
CLARGY.     I    passe  not  on  the  Scriptur ;   that  is  i-now 

for  me 
Whyche  the  Holy  Father  approvyth  by  his  auctoryte. 

K.  JOHAN.     Now,  alas,  alas !  what  wreched  peple  ye  are 
And  how  ygnorant,  yowr  owne  wordes  doth  declare.  1440 

Woo  ys  that  peple  whych  hath  so  wycked  techeres ! 

CLARGY.     Naye,  wo  ys  that  peple  that  hathe  so  cruell 

rewlars ! 

Owr  Holy  Father,  I  trow,  cowd  do  no  lesse, 
Consyderyng  the  factes  of  yowr  owtragyosnes. 

[Enter  Nobelyte.] 

NOB.     Com  awaye,  for  shame,  and  make  no  more  ado!       1445 
Ye  are  in  gret  danger  for  commynyng  with  hym  so ; 
He  is  accursyd,  I  mervell  ye  do  not  waye  yt. 

CLARGY.     I  here  by  his  wordes  that  he  wyll  not  obeye  yt. 

NOB.     Whether   he   wyll   or  no,   I   wyll  not   with   hym 

talke 
Tell  he  be  assoyllyd.     Com  on,  my  frynds,  wyll  ye  walke?      1450 

K.  JOHAN.     Oh,  this  is  no  tokyn  of  trew  Nobelyte, 
To  flee  from  yowr  kyng  in  his  extremyte. 

NOB.     I  shall  dyssyer  yow  as  now  to  pardone  me ; 
I  had  moche  rather  do  agaynst  God,  veryly, 
Than  to  Holy  Chyrche  to  do  any  injurye.  1455 

K.  JOHAN.     What  blyndnes  is  this?     On  this  peple,  Lord, 

have  mercy! 

Ye  speke  of  defylyng,  but  ye  are  corrupted  all 
With  pestylent  doctryne  or  leven  pharesyacall. 
Good  and  x  faythfull  Susan  sayd  that  yt  was  moche  better 
To  fall  in  daunger  of  men  than  do  the  gretter,  1460 

As,  to  leve 2  Codes  lawe,  whych  ys  his  word  most  pure. 

1  C .  to ;  amend,  by  Kittredge. 

2  C.  love. 


5/6  JOHN    BALE. 

CLARGY.    Ye  have  nothyng,  ///owjjgh],1  to  allege  to  us  but 

Scripture : 
Ye  shall  fare  the  worse  for  that,  ye  may  be  sure. 

K.   JOHAN.     What   shulde    I    allege   elles,   thu   wycked 

Pharyse? 

To  yowr  false  lernyng  no  faythfull  man  wyll  agree.  14^5 

Dothe  not  the  Lord  say,  mine,  reges,  intelligite:* 
The  kyngs  of  the  erthe  that  worldly  cawses  juge, 
Seke  to  the  Scriptur,  late  that  be  yowr  refuge? 

S.  ORDER.     Have  ye  nothyng  elles  but  this?  than  God 

.    be  with  ye! 
K.  JOHAN.     One  questyon  more  yet  ere  ye  departe  from 

me  1470 

I  wyll  fyrst  demaund  of  yow,  Nobelyte  : 
Why  leve  ye  yowr  prince  and  cleave  to  the  Pope  so  sore  ? 
NOB.     For  I  toke  an  othe  to  defend  the  Chyrche  ever- 
more. 
K.  JOHAN.     Clergy,  I  am  sure  than  yowr  quarell  ys  not 

small. 

CLARGY.     I  am  professyd  to  the  ryghtes  ecclesyastycall.     1475 
K.  JOHAN.     And   yow,    Cyvyle   Order,   oweth   her   sum 

offyce  of  dewtye. 
S.  ORDER.     I  am  hyr  feed  man ;  who  shuld  defend  her 

but  I? 

K.  JOHAN.     Of  all  thre  partyes  yt  is  spoken  resonably : 
Ye  may  not  obeye  becawse  of  the  othe  ye  mad ; 
Yowr  strong  professyon  maketh  yow  of  that  same  trad ;  1480 

Yowr  fee  provokyth  yow  to  do  as  thes  men  do ;  — 
Grett  thyngs  to  cawse  men  from  God  to  the  devyll  to  go! 
Yowr  othe  is  growndyd  fyrst  uppon  folyshenes ; 
And  yowr  professyon  uppon  moche  pevyshenes ; 
Yowr  fee,  last  of  all,  ryseth  owt  of  covetusnes;—  1485 

And  thes  are  the  cawses  of  yowr  rebellyosnes ! 

CLARGY.    Cum,  Cyvill  Order,  lett  us  departe  from  hence'! 

K.  JOHAN.     Than  are  ye  at  a  poynt  for  yowr  obedyence? 

S.  ORDER.     We  wyll  in  no  wysse  be  partakers  of  yowr  yll. 

1  C.  yow.  2  C.  intellege. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  577 

Here  go  owt  Clargy  and  dresse  for   Yiiglond,  and  Cyvyll  Order  for 
Comtnynalte. 

K.  JOHAN.     As  ye  have  bene  ever,  so  ye  wyll  contynew 

styll.  1490 

Thowgh  they  be  gone,  tarye  yow  with  me  a-whyle ; 
The  presence  of  a  prynce  to  yow  shuld  never  be  vyle. 

NOB.     Sur,  nothyng  grevyth  me  but  yowr  excomynycacion. 

K.  JOHAN.     That  ys  but  a  fantasy  in  yowr  ymagynacyon. 
The  Lord  refuse  not  soch  as  hath  his  great  cursse,  1495 

But  call  them  to  grace,  and  faver  them  never  the  worsse. 
Saynt  Pawle  wyllyth  you,  whan  ye  are  among  soch  sort, 
Not  to  abhore  them,  but  geve  them  words  of  comfort. 
Why  shuld  ye  than  flee  from  me  yowr  lawfull  kyng, 
For  plesure  of  soch  as  owght  to  do  no  suche  thyng  ?  1 500 

The  Chyrches  abusyons,  as  holy  Seynt  Powle  do  saye, 
By  the  princes  power  owght  for  to  be  takyn  awaye : 
"He  baryth  not  the  sword  withowt  a  cawse,"  sayth  he. 
In  this  neyther  bysshope  nor  spirituall  man  is  free ; 
Offendyng  the  lawe  they  are  under  the  powers  all.  1505 

NOB.     How  wyll  ye  prove  me  that  the  fathers  sprytuall 
Were  under  the  princes  ever  contynewally? 

K.  JOHAN.     By  the  actes  of  kynges  I  wyll  prove  yt  by- 

and-by : 

David  and  Salomon  the  pristes  ded  constitute, 
Commandyng  the  offyces  that  they  shuld  execute ;  1510 

Josaphat,  the  kyng,  the  mynysters  ded  appoynt, 
So  ded  kyng  Ezechias,  whom  God  hymselfe  ded  anoynt ; 
Dyverse  of  the  princes  for  the  pristes  ded  make  decrees, 
Lyke  as  yt  is  pleyn  in  the  fyrst  of  Machabees. 
Owr  prists  are  rysyn  throwgh  lyberte  of  kyngs  1515 

By  ryches  to  pryd  and  other  unlawfull  doynges ; 
And  that  is  the  cawse  that  they  so  oft  dysobeye. 

NOB.     Good  Lord,  what  a  craft  have  you  thes  thynges 
to  convaye! 

K.  JOHAN.     Now,  alas,  that  the  false  pretence  of  super- 

stycyon 
Shuld  cawse  yow  to  be  a  mayntener  of  Sedycyon!  1520 


5/8  JOHN    BALE. 

Sum  thynkyth  Nobelyte  in  natur  to  consyst 

Or  in  parentage  ;  ther  thowght  is  but  a  myst ; l 

Wher  habundance  is  of  vertu,  faith  and  grace, 

With  knowlage  of  the  Lord,  Nobelyte  is  ther  in  place, 

And  not  wher-as  is2  the  wylfull  contempte  of  thyngs  *525 

Pertaynyng  to  God  in  the  obedyence  of  kynges. 

Beware  ye  synke  not  with  Dathan  and  Abiron 

For  dysobeyng  the  power  and  domynyon. 

NOB.     Nay,  byd  me  be  aware  I  do  not  synke  with  yow 

here; 
Beyng  acurssyd,  of  trowth,  ye  put  me  in  fere.  153° 

K.  JOHAN.     Why,  are  ye  gone  hence  and  wyll  ye  no 
longar  tarrye? 

NOB.    No-wher  as  yow  are  in  place,  by  swete  Seynt  Marye ! 

Here  Nobelyte  go  owt  and  dresse  for  the  Cardynall.    Here  enter  Yng- 
lond  and  Commynalte. 

K.  JOHAN.     Blessed  Lord  of  Heaven,  what  is  the  wretch- 

ednesse 

Of  thys  wycked  worlde!     An  evyll  of  all  evyls,  doubtlesse! 
Perceyve  ye  not  here  how  the  Clergye  hath  rejecte  *535 

Their  true  allegeaunce,  to  maynteyne  the  popysh  secte? 
See  ye  not  how  lyghte  the  lawyers  sett  the  poure, 
Whanne  God  commandyth  them  to  obeye  yche  daye  and 

howre? 

Nobylyte  also,  whych  ought  hys  prynce  to  assyste, 
Is  vanyshed  awaye  as  it  we[re]  3  a  wynter  myste.  154° 

All  they  are  from  me ;  I  am  now  left  alone, 
And,4  God  wote,  knowe  not  to  whome  to  make  my  mone. 
Oh,  yet  wolde  I  fayne  knowe  the  mynde  of  my  Commynalte, 
Whether  he  wyll  go  with  them  or  abyde  with  me. 

YNGL.     He  is  here  at  hond,  a  symple  creature  as  maybe.  1545 

K.  JOHAN.     Cum  hether,  my  f rynde  ;  stand  nere!  ys  thy- 
self e  he? 

COM.     Yf  it  lyke  yowr  grace,  I  am  yowr  pore  Commynalte. 

1  C.  amyst.  *  Corr.  by  C. 

*  C.  in  ;  emend,  by  Kittredge.  *  C.  Knd. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  579 

K.  JOHAN.     Thou  art  poore  inowgh ;  yf  that  be,  good 

God l  helpe  the. 
Me  thynke  thow  art  blynd ;  tell  me,  frynde,  canst  thu  not 

see? 
YNGL.     He  is  blynd  in-dede,   yt  is  the  more  rewth  and 

pytte.  1550 

K.  JOHAN.     How  cummyst  thow  so  blynd?     I  pray  the, 

good  fellow,  tell  me. 

COM.     For  want  of  knowlage  in  Christes  lyvely  veryte. 
YNGL.     This  spirituall  blyndnes    bryngeth    men   owt  of 

the  waye, 
And  cause  them  oft-tymes  ther  kynges  to  dyssobaye. 

K.  JOHAN.     How  sayst  thow,  Commynalte?  wylt  not  thu 

take  my  parte?  1555 

COM.     To  that  I  cowd  be  contented  with  all  my  hart ; 
But,  alas,  in  me  are  two  great  impedymentes! 

K.  JOHAN.     I  pray  the,  shew  me  what  are  those  impedy- 
mentes. 
COM.     The  fyrst  is  blyndnes,  wherby  I  myght  take  with 

the  Pope 

Soner  than  with  yow  ;  for,  alas !   I  can  but  grope,  1 560 

And  ye  know  full  well  ther  are  maity  nowghty  gydes. 
The  nexte  is  poverte,  whych  cleve  so  hard  to  my  sydes 
And  ponych  me  so  sore  that  my  power  ys  lytyll  or  non. 
K.  JOHAN.     In  Codes  name,  tell  me !  how  cummyth  thi 

substance  gone? 
COM.     By  pristes,  channons,  and  monkes,  which  do  but 

fyll  ther  bely  1565 

With  my  swett  and  labour  for  ther  popych  purgatory. 

YNGL.     Yowr    Grace    promysed   me   that   I   shuld  have 

remedy 
In  that  same  mater  whan  I  was  last  here,  trewly. 

K.  JOHAN.     Dowghtles  I  ded  so,  but,  alas,  yt  wyll  not  be ! 
In  hart  I  lament  this  great  infelycyte.  1570 

YNGL.     Late  me  have  my  spowse  and  my  londes  at  lyberte, 
And  I  promyse  you  my  sonne  here,  your  Commynallte, 
1  Kittredge  suggests:  yf  that  be  thow,  God  helpe  the. 


580  JOHN    BALE. 

I  wyll  make  able  to  do  ye  dewtyfull  servyce. 

K.  JOHAN.     I  wold  I  ware  able  to  do  to  the  that  offyce ; 
But  alas,  I  am  not!  for-why  my  Nobelyte,  1575 

My  Lawers,  and  Clargy  hath  cowardly  forsake  me, 
And  now  last  of  all,  to  my  most  anguysh  of  mynd, 
My  Commynalte  here  I  fynd  both  poore  and  blynde. 

YNGL.     Rest  upon  this,  ser,  for  my  governor  ye  shall  be 
So  long  as  ye  lyve  ;  God  hath  so  apoynted  me.  1580 

His  owtward  blyndnes  ys  but  a  sygnyficacion 
Of  blyndnes  in  sowle  for  lacke  of  informacyon 
In  the  word  of  God,  which  is  the  orygynall  grownd 
Of  dyssobedyence,  which  all  realmes  doth  confund. 
Yf   yowr    Grace  wold   cawse    Codes   word   to   be   tawght 

syncerly,  1585 

And  subdew  those  pristes  that  wyll  not  preche  yt  trewly, 
The  peple  shuld  know  to  ther  prynce  ther  lawfull  dewty ; 
But,  yf  ye  permytt  contynuance  of  ypocresye 
In   monkes,  chanons    and   pristes,   and   mynysters   of   the 

clargy, 
Yowr  realme  shall  never  be  with-owt  moch  traytery.  1590 

K.  JOHAN.     All  that  I  perseyve,  and  therfore  I  kepe  owt 

fryers, 

Lest  they  shuld  bryng  the  moch  farder  into  the  bryers. 
They  have  mad  labur  to  inhabytt  this  same  regyon ; 
They  shall  for  my  tyme  not  enter  into  domynyon. 
We  have  to  many  of  soch  vayne  lowghtes  all-redy;  1595 

I  beshrew  ther  harts,  they  have  made  you  ij  full  nedy! 

Here  enter  Pandulphus,  the  Cardynall,  and  sayth  : 

PAND.     What,  Commynalte,  ys  this  the  counaunt1  kepyng? 

Thow  toldyst  me  thu  woldest  take  hym  no  more  for  thi  kyng. 

COM.     Peccavi,    mea    cutya !     I    submyt    me    to    yowr 

Holynes. 
PAND.     Gett  the  hence  than  shortly,  and  go  abovvt  thi 

besynes !  i 600 

Wayet  on  thy  capttaynes,  Nobelyte  and  the  Clargy, 

1  C.  connaunt. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  581 

With  Cyvyll  Order,  and  the  other  company ; 

Blow  owt  yowr  tromppettes  and  sett  forth  manfully ; 

The  Frenche  kyng,  Phelype,  by  sea  doth  hether  apply 

With  the  power  of  Fraunce  to  subdew  this  herytyke.  1605 

K.  JOHAN.     I  defy  both  hym  and  the,  lewde  scysmatyke! 
Why  wylt  thu  forsake  thy  prince  or  thi  prince  leve  the? 

COM.     I    must    nedes   obbay    whan    Holy   Chirch    com- 
mandyth  me. 

Go  owt  Coinmynalte. 

YNGL.     Yf  thow  leve  thy  kyng,  take  me  never  for  thy 

mother. 
PAND.     Tush,  care  not  thu  for  that,  I  shall  provyd  the 

another!  1610 

Yt  ware  fytter  for  yow  to  be  in  another  place. 

YNGL.     Yt  shall  becum  me  to  wayte  upon  his  Grace, 
And  do  hym  servyce  where-as  he  ys  resydente, 
For  I  was  gevyn  hym  of  the  Lord  Omnypotente. 

PAND.1     Thow  mayst  not  abyde  here,  for-whye  we  have 

hym  curssyd.  1615 

YNGL.     I  be-shrow  yowr  hartes,  so  have  ye  me  onpursed ! 
Yf  he  be  acurssed,  than  are  we  a  mete  cuppell, 
For  I  am  interdyct ;  no  salve  that  sore  can  suppell. 

PAND.     I  say,  gett  the  hence,   and    make   me  no  more 

pratyng. 

YNGL.     I  wyll  not  a-waye  from  myn  owne  lawfull  kyng,     '1620 
Appoynted  of  God,  tyll  deth  shall  us  departe. 

PAND.     Wyll  ye  not,  in-dede?     Well  than,  ye  are  lyke  to 

smarte. 

YNGL.     I  smarte  all-redy  throw  yowr  most  suttell  practyse, 
And  am  clene  ondone  by  yowr  false  merchandyce, 
Yowr  pardons,  yowr  bulles,  yowr  purgatory-pyckepurse,  1625 

Yowr  Lent-fastes,  yowr  schryftes,  that  I  pray  God  geve  yow 

his  cursse ! 

PAND.     Thu  shalt  smart  better  or  we  have  done  with  the, 
For  we  have  this  howr  great  navyes  upon  the  see 

1  This  and  the  next  two  speeches  of  Pandiilphus  are  in  C.  assigned  to 
C.,  -which  must  be  intended  as  an  abbreviation  of  Cardynall. 


582  JOHN    BALE. 

In  every  quarter,  with  this  Loller  here  to  fyght, 
And  to  conquarre  hym  for  the  Holy  Chyrchis  ryght :  1 630 

We  have  on  the  northe  Alexander,  the  kyng  of  Scotts, 
With  an  armye  of  men  that  for  their  townnes  cast  lottes ; 
On  the  sowthe  syde  we  have  the  French  kyng  with  his  power, 
Which  wyll  sle  and  burne  tyll  he  cum  to  London  Tower ; 
In  the  west  parts  we  have  Kyng  Alphonso  with  the  Spanyards,   1635 
With  sheppes  full  of  gonepowder  now  cummyng  hether  to- 
wards ; 
And  on  the  est  syde  we  have  Esterlynges,  Danes  and  Nor- 

ways, 
With  soch  power  landynge  as  can  be  resystyd  nowayes. 

K.  JOHAN.     All   that  is  not   true   that   yow  have   here 
expressed.1 

PAND.     By  the  masse,  so  true  as  I  have  now  confessed!     1640 

K.  JOHAN.     And  what  do  ye  meane  by  such  an  hurly- 
burlye? 

PAND.     For  the  Churches  ryght  to  subdue  ye  ma[n]fullye.2 

SED.     To  all  that  wyll  fyght  I  proclame  a  Jubyle 
Of  cleane  remyssyon,  thys  tyrant  here  to  slee. 
Destroye  hys  people,  burne  up  both  cytie  and  towne,  1645 

That   the    Pope  of    Rome   maye  have  hys   scepture  and 

crowne ! 

In  the  Churches  cawse  to  dye,  thys  daye  be  bolde ; 
Your  sowles  shall  to  heaven  ere  your  fleshe  and  bones  be 
colde ! 

K.  JOHAN.     Most  mercyfull  God,  as  my  trust  is  in  the, 
So  comforte  me  now  in  this  extremyte !  1650 

As  thow  helpyst8  David  in  his  most  hevynes, 
So  helpe  me  this  hour,  of  thy  grace,  mercye  and  goodnes ! 

PAND.     This  owtward  remorse  that  ye  show  here  evydent 
Ys  a  grett  lykelyhod  and  token  of  amendment. 
How  say  ye,  Kyng  Johan,  can  ye  fynd  now  in  yowr  hart          1655 
To  obaye  Holy  Chyrch  and  geve  ower  yowr  froward  part? 

1  Lines  1639-1648  are  an  insertion  in  Bale's  hand. 

2  Corr.  by  C. 

8  Read  helpedst,  or  holpyst. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  583 

K.  JOHAN.     Were  yt  so  possyhle   to  hold  thes  enmyes 

backe, 

That  my  swete  Ynglond  perysh  not  in  this  sheppewracke  ? l 
PAND.     "  Possyble,"  quoth  he  ?  yea,  they  shuld  go  bake 

in-dede, 

And  ther  gret  armyse  to  some  other  quarters  leade,  1660 

Or  elles  they  have  not  so  many  good  blyssyngs  now, 
But  as  many  cursyngs  they  shall  have,  I  make  God  avowe. 
I  promyse  yow,  sur,  ye  shall  have  specyall  faver 
Yf  ye  wyll  submyt  yowr-sylfe  to  Holy  Chyrch  here. 

K.  JOHAN.     I  trust  than  ye  wyll  graunt  some  delyber- 

acyon  1665 

To  have  an  answere  of  thys  your  protestacyon. 

SED.     Tush,  gyve  upp  the  crowne,  and  make  no  more 

a-do! 
K.  JOHAN.     Your  spirytuall  charyte  wyll  be  better  to  me 

than  so. 

The  crowne  of  a  realme  is  a  matter  of  great  wayght ; 
In  gyvynge  it  upp  we  maye  not  be  to  slayght.  1670 

SED.     I  saye,  gyve  it  up ;  let  us  have  no  more  a-do. 
PAND.     Yea,  and  in  our  warres  we  wyll  no  farder  go. 
K.  JOHAN.     Ye  wyll  gyve  me  leave  to  talke  first  with  my 

Clergye  ? 
SED.     With  them    ye   nede   not ;   they  are   at   a  poynt 

alreadye. 
K.  JOHAN.     Than  with  my  lawers,  to  heare  what  they 

wyll  tell.  1675 

SED.     Ye  shall  ever  have  them  as  the  Clergye  gyve  them 

counsell.  * 

K.  JOHAN.     Then  wyll  I  commen  with  my  Nobylyte. 
SED.     We  have  hym  so  jugled  he  wyll  not  to  yow  agree. 

1  Besides  the  insertions  noted  above,  the  MS.  contains  three  additions 
in  Bale's  hand,  marked  -with  the  reference-letters  A,  B,  C.  Collier  says 
that  only  for  that  marked  A  is  the  place  of  insertion  indicated.  This 
insertion  he  made,  but  without  stating  precisely  where ;  it  is,  however, 
certain  that  the  inserted  passage  begins  between  1.  1658  and  1.  1683  ;  for 
reasons  for  thinking  that  it  begins  with  \.  1665  and  ends  with  1.  1727,  see 
Nates. 


584  JOHN    BALE. 

K.  JOHAN.     Yet  shall  I  be  content  to  do  as  he  counsell 

me. 
PAND.     Than  be  not  to  longe  from  hence,  I  wyll  advyse 

yC.  [Exeunt  Kynge  Johan  and  Ynglond^    1 680 

SED.  Is  not  thys  a  sport?  By  the  messe,  it  is,  I  trowe ! 
What  welthe  and  pleasure  wyll  now  to  owr  kyngedoin  growe ! 
Englande  is  our  owne,  whych  is  the  most  plesaunte  grounde 
In  all  the  rounde  worlde!  Now  may  we  realmes  confounde. 
Our  Holye  Father  maye  now  lyve  at  hys  pleasure,  1685 

And  have  habundaunce  of  wenches,  wynes  and  treasure. 
He  is  now  able  to  kepe  downe  Christe  and  his  gospell, 
True  fayth  to  exyle,  and  all  vertues  to  expell. 
Now  shall  we  ruffle  it  in  velvetts,  gold  and  sylke, 
With  shaven  crownes,  syde  gownes,  and  rochettes  whyte  as 

mylke.  1 690 

By  the  messe,  Pandulphus,  now  may  we  synge  cantate, 
And  crowe  confitebor  with  a  joyfull /«£/&/«/ 
Holde  me,  or  els  for  laughynge  I  must  burste. 

PAND.    Holde  thy  peace,  whorson  ;  I  wene  thu  art  accurst ! 
Kepe  a  sadde  countenaunce,  a  very  vengeaunce  take  the!       1695 
SED.     I  can  not  do  it,  by  the  messe,  and  thu  shuldest 

hange  me. 

If  Solon  were  here,  I  recken  that  he  woulde  laugh 
Whych  never  laught  yet ;   yea,  lyke  a  whelpe  he  would  waugh. 
Ha,  ha,  ha!     "Laugh,"  quoth  he?  yea,  laugh  and   laugh 

agayne : 

We  had  never  cause  to  laugh  more  free,  I  am  playne.  1700 

PAND.     I  pray  the,  no  more,  for  here  come  the  kynge 

agayne  !  9  [Enter  Kynge  Johan  and  Ynglond.'] 

K.  JOHAN.     If  I  shoulde  not  graunt,  here  woulde  be  a 

wondrefull  spoyle,1 

Every-where  the  enemyes  woulde  ruffle  and  turmoyle ; 
The  losse  of  [the]  people  stycketh  most  unto  my  harte. 

ENGL.     Do  as  ye  thynke  best,  yche  waye  is  to  my  smarte.   1705 

1  Lines  1702-1705  are  the  second  of  the  additions  mentioned,  p.  583,  n.  I. 
That  they  belong  here  is  certain  ;  they  end  in  MS.  with  a  repetition  of  the 
first  half  of  1.  1706:  PAND.  Are  ye  at  a  poynt. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  585 

PAND.     Are  ye  l  at  a  poynt  wherto  ye  intende  to  stande  ? 
SED.     Yea,  hardely,  sir  :  gyve  up  the  crowne  of  Englande. 
K.  JOHAN.     I  have  cast  in  my  mynde  the  great  displeas- 
ures of  warre, 

The  daungers,  the  losses,  the  decayes  both  nere  and  farre ; 
The  burnynge  of  townes,  the  throwynge  downe  of  buyld- 

ynges,  1710 

Destructyon  of  corne  and  cattell,  with  other  thynges ; 
Defylynge  of  maydes,  and  shedynge  of  Christen  blood, 
With  suche  lyke  outrages,  neythar  honest,  true  nor  good : 
These  thynges  consydered,  I  am  compelled  thys  houre 
To  resigne  up  here  both  crowne  and  regall  poure.  .     1715 

ENGL.     For  the  love  of  God,  yet  take  some  better  advyse- 

ment. 
SED.     Holde  your  tunge,  ye  whore,  or,  by  the  messe,  ye 

shall  repent! 

Downe  on  yowr  marry-bones,  and  make  no  more  a-do. 
ENGL.     If  ye  love  me  sir,  for  Gods  sake,  do  never  so ! 
K.  JOHAN.     O  Englande,  Englande  !  showe  now  thyselfe 

a  mother,  1 720 

Thy  people  wyll  els  be  slayne  here  without  nomber. 
As  God  shall  judge  me,  I  do  not  thys  of  cowardnesse, 
But  of  compassyon  in  thys  extreme  heavynesse. 
Shall  my  people  shedde  their  bloude  in  suche  habundaunce? 
Naye,  I  shall  rather  gyve  upp  my  whole  governaunce.  1725 

SED.     Come  of  apace,   than,  and  make  an  ende  of   it 

shortly ! 
ENGL.     The   most   pytiefull    chaunce   that    hath    bene 

hytherto,  surely. 
K.  JOHAN.     Here  I  submyt  me  to    Pope  Innocent   the 

Thred, 
Dyssyering  mercy  of  hys  Holy  Fatherhed.2 

PAND.     Geve  up  the  crowne  than,  yt  shalbe  the  better 

for  ye  ;  1 730 

He  wyll  unto  yow  the  more  favorable  be. 

1  C.  Ye  are ;  but  cf.  p.  584,  n.  i. 

2  See  belmv  n  c87,  n.  i. 


586  JOHN    BALE. 

Here  the  Kyng  delevyr  the  crowne  to  the  Cardynall. 

K.  JOHAN.     To  hym  I  resygne  here  the  septer  and  the 

crowne 

Of  Ynglond  and  Yrelond  with  the  power  and  renowne, 
And  put  me  wholly  to  his  mercyfull  ordynance. 

PAND.     I  may  say  this  day  the  Chyrch  hath  a  full  gret 

chaunce.  1735 

This  v  dayes  I  wyll  kepe  this  crowne  in  myn  owne  hande, 
In  the  Popes  behalf e  upseasyng  Ynglond  and  Yerlond. 
In  the  meane  season  ye  shall  make  an  oblygacyon 
For  yow  and  yowr  ayers  in  this  synyficacyon : 
To  resay ve  yowr  crowne  of  the  Pope  for-ever-more  1 740 

In  maner  of  fefarme  ;  and,  for  a  tokyn  therfore, 
Ye  shall  every  yere  paye  hym  a  thowsand  marke 
With  the  Peter-pens,  and  not  agenst  yt  barke. 
Ye  shall  also  geve  to  the  bysshoppe  of  Cantorbery 
A  thre  thowsand  marke  for  his  gret  injury.  1 745 

To  the  Chyrch  besydes,  for  the  great  scathe  ye  have  done, 
Forty  thowsand  marke  ye  shall  delyver  sone. 

K.  JOHAN.     Ser,  the  taxe  that  I  had  of  the  hole  realme 

of  Ynglond 

Amownted  to  no  more  but  unto  xxxti  thowsand ; 
Why  shuld  I  then  paye  so  moche  unto  the  clargy?  '75° 

PAND.     Ye  shall  geve  yt  them  ;  ther  is  no  remedy. 
K.  JOHAN.     Shall  they  pay  no  tribute  yf  the  realme  stond 

in  rerage? 
PAND.     Sir,  they  shall  pay  none ;  we  wyll  have  no  soch 

bondage. 
K.  JOHAN.     The  Pope  had  at  once  thre  hundred  thowsand 

marke. 
PAND.     What   is    that   to  you?     Ah,   styll   ye   wyll  be 

starke?  1755 

Ye  shall  pay  yt,  sur ;  ther  is  no  remedy. 

K.  JOHAN.     Yt  shall  be  performed  as  ye  wyll  have  yt, 

trewly. 

ENGL.     So  noble  a  realme  to  stande  tributarye,  alas, 
To  the  devylls  vycar!  suche  fortune  never  was  ! 


KYNGE    JOIIAN.  587 

SED.     Out  with  thys  harlot !  Cocks  sowle,  she  hath  lete  a 

fart !  1 760 

ENGL.     Lyke  a  wretche  thu  lyest.     Thy  report  is  lyke  as 

thu  art. 
PAND.     Ye  shall  suffer  the  monks  and  chanons  to  make 

reentry 

In-to  ther  abbayes  and  to  dwell  ther  peaceably; 
Ye  shall  se  also  to  my  great  labur  and  charge ; 
For  other  thyngs  elles  we  shall  commen  more  at  large.  1765 

K.  JOHAN.  Ser,  in  every  poynt  I  shall  fulfyll  yowr  plesur. 
PAND.  Than  plye  yt  apace,  and  lett  us  have  the  tresur. 
YNGL •  . 

offended.1 

SED.     And  I  am  full  gladde  ye  are  so  welle  amended.         1770 
Unto  Holy  Churche  ye  are  now  an  obedyent  chylde, 
Where  ye  were  afore  with  heresye  muche  defyelde. 

ENGL.     Sir,  yonder  is  a  clarke  whych  is  condempned  for 

treason. 
The  shryves  woulde  fayne  knowe  what  to  do  with  hym  thys 

season. 
K.  JOHAN.     Come  hyther,  fellawe.     What !    me    thynke 

thu  art  a  pryste  !  1775 

[Enter  Treason,] 

TREASON.     He  hath  ofter  gessed  that  of  the  truthe  have 

myste ! 
K.  JOHAN.     A  pryste   and  a  traytour?  how,  maye  that 

wele  agree  ? 

TREASON.     Yes,  yes,  wele  ynough,  underneth  benedicite. 
Myself  hath  played  it,  and  therfore  I  knowe  it  the  better. 
Amonge  craftye  coyners  2  there  hath  not  bene  a  gretter.          r  780 

1  From  here  to  the  end  is  the  third  addition  (cf,  p.  583,  n.  i).  It  seems 
likely  that  Bale  cancelled  the  original  ending  of  the  flay  and  replaced 
it  -with  these  lines,  which,  perhaps,  should  also  replace  11.  1729-1768,  thus: 
Dyssyring  mercy  of  that  I  have  offended,  etc.  Collier  does  not  state  whether 
\.  1768  comes  at  the  end  of  a  leaf  of  the  MS.  or  not. 

8  C.  cloyners. 


588  JOHN    BALE. 

K.  JOHAN.     Tell   some  of   thy  feates ;    thu  mayest   the 

better  escape. 
SED.     Hem !  not  to  bolde  yet ;   for  a  mowse  the  catte 

wyll  gape. 
TREASON.     Twenty  thousande  traytour[s]  I  have  made 

in  my  tyme, 

Undre  benedicite^  betwyn  hygh  masse  and  pryme. 
I  have  made  Nobylyte  to  be  obedyent  1785 

To  the  Church  of  Rome,  whych  most  kynges  maye  repent. 
I  have  so  convayed  that  neyther  priest  nor  lawer 
Wyll  obeye  Gods  wurde,  nor  yet  the  gospell  faver. 
In  the  place  of  Christe  I  have  sett  up  supersticyons : 
For  preachynges,  ceremonyes ;  for  Gods  wurde,  mennys  tra- 

dicyons.  1 790 

Come  to  the  temple  and  there  Christe  hath  no  place, 
Moyses  and  the  paganes  doth  utterly  hym  deface. 

ENGL.     Marke  wele,  sir  ;  tell  what  we  have  of  Moyses. 
TREASON.     All  your  ceremonyes,  your   copes  and  your 

sensers,  doubtlesse, 

Your  fyers,  your  waters,  your  oyles,  your  aulters,  your  ashes,   1 795 
Your  candlestyckes,  your  cruettes,  your  salte,  with  suche 

lyke  trashes ; 
Ye  lacke  but  the  bloude  of  a  goate,  or  els  a  calfe. 

ENGL.     Lete  us  heare  sumwhat  also  in  the  paganes  be- 

halfe. 
TREASON.     Of  the  paganes  ye  have  your  gylded  ymages 

all, 

In  your  necessytees  upon  them  for  to  call,  1800 

With    crowchynges,    with    kyssynges,  and    settynge  up  of 

lyghtes, 
Bearynge   them  in  processyon,  and  fastynges  upon   their 

nyghtes ; 
Some   for   the   tothe-ake,   some    for   the   pestylence   and 

poxe; 
With  ymages  of  waxe  to  brynge  moneye  to  the  boxe. 

ENGL.     What  have  they  of  Christe  in  the  Churche?     I 

praye  the  tell.  1805 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  $89 

TREASON.     Marry,  nothynge  at  all,  but  the  epystle  and 

the  gospell, 
And  that  is  in  Latyne,  that  no  man  shoulde  it  knowe. 

SED.     Peace,  noughty  whoreson,  peace !    Thu  playest  the 

knave,  I  trowe. 
K.  JOHAN.     Has  thu  knowne  suche  wayes,  and   sought 

no  reformacyon  ? 

[TREASON.]1    It  is  the  ly vynge  of  my  whole  congregacyon.   1 8 1 o 
If  supersticyons  and  ceremonyes  from  us  fall, 
Farwele  monke  and  chanon,  priest,  fryer,  byshopp,  and  all ! 
My  conveyaunce  is  suche  that  we  haue  both  moneye  and 

ware. 

SED.    Our  occupacyon  thu  wylt  marre,  God  gyve  the  care! 
ENGL.     Very  fewe  of  ye  wyll  Peters  offyce  take.  1815 

TREASON.     Yes,  the  more  part  of  us  our  Maistre  hath 

forsake. 
ENGL.     I  meane  for  preachynge,  -  - 1  pray  God  thu  be 

curste ! 

TREASON.     No,  no,  with  Judas  we  love  wele  to  be  purste. 
We  selle  owr  Maker  so  sone  as  we  have  hym  made, 
And,  as  for  preachynge,  we  meddle  not  with  that  trade,  1820 

Least  Annas,  Cayphas  and  the  lawers  shulde  us  blame, 
Callyng  us  to  reckenynge  for  preachynge  in  that  name. 
K.  JOHAN.     But  tell  to  me,  person,  whie  wert  thu  cast  in 

preson? 
[TREASON.]  l     For  no  great  matter ;  but  a  lyttle  petye 

treason : 

For  conjurynge,  calkynge,  and  coynynge  of  newe  grotes,          1825 
For  clippynge  of  nobles,  with  suche  lyke  pratye  motes. 
ENGL.     Thys  is  hygh  treason,  and  hath  bene  evermor. 
K.  JOHAN.     It  is  suche  treason  as  he  shall  sure  hange  for. 
TREASON.     I  have  holy  orders ;  by  the  messe,   I  defye 

your  wurst! 

Ye  can  not  towche  me  but  ye  must  be  accurst.  1830 

K.  JOHAN.     We  wyll  not  towche  the,  the  halter  shall  do 
yt  alone ; 

1  Supplied  by  C. 


59O  JOHN    BALE. 

Curse  the  rope  therfor  whan  thu  begynnest  to  grone. 

TREASON.     And  sett   ye  no  more  by  the  holy  ordre  of 

prestehode? 
Ye  wyll  prove  your-selfe  an  heretyke,  by  the  rode ! 

K.  JOHAN.     Come   hyther,  Englande,  and    here  what    I 

saye  to  the  !  1835 

ENGL.     I  am  all  readye  to  do  as  ye  commaunde  me. 

K.  JOHAN.     For  so  much  as  he  hath  falsefyed  our  coyne, 
As  he  is  worthie,  lete  hym  with  an  halter  joyne. 
Thu  shalt  hange  no  priest,  nor  yet  none  honest  man, 
But  a  traytour,  a  thefe,  and  one  that  lyttle  good  can.  1840 

PAND.     What,  yet  agaynst  the  Churche?    Gett  me  boke, 

belle  and  candle ! 

As  I  am  true  priest,  I  shall  ye  yett  better  handle ! 
Ye  neyther  regarde  hys  crowne  nor  anoynted  fyngers, 
The  offyce  of  a  priest,  nor  the  grace  that  therin  lyngers. 

SED.     Sir,  pacyent  yourselfe,  and  all  thynge  shall  be  well.   1845 
Fygh,  man,  to  the  Churche  that  ye  shulde  be  styll  a  rebell! 

ENGL.     I  accompt  hym  no  priest  that  worke  such  hay- 
nouse  treason. 

SED.     It  is  a  worlde  to  heare  a  folysh  woman  reason ! 

PAND.     After  thys  maner  ye  used  Peter  Pomfrete, 
A  good  symple  man,  and,  as  they  saye,  a  profete.  1850 

K.  JOHAN.     Sir,  I  did  prove  hym  a  very  supersticyouse 

wretche, 

And  blasphemouse  lyar ;  therfor  did  the  lawe  hym  upstretche. 
He  prophecyed  first  I  shulde  reigne  but  xiiij  years, 
Makynge  the  people  to  beleve  he  coulde  bynde  bears ; 
And  I  have  reigned  a  seventene  yeares,  and  more.  I&55 

And  anon  after  he  grudged  at  me  very  sore, 
And  sayde  I  shulde  be  exyled  out  of  my  realme 
Before  the  Ascencyon,  whych  was  turned  to  a  fantastycall 

dreame, 

Saynge  he  woulde  hange  if  hys  prophecy e  were  not  true. 
Thus  hys  owne  decaye  hys  folyshnesse  did  brue.  1860 

PAND.     Ye  shuld  not  hange  hym  whych  is  a  frynde  to 
the  Churche. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  59 1 

K.  JOHAN.     Alac  that  ye  shoulde  counte  them  fryndes  of 

the  Churche 

That  agaynst  all  truthe  so  hypocritycally  lurche ! 
An  yll  Churche  is  it  that  hath  such  fryndes,  in-dede ! 

ENGL.     Of  Maister  Morres  suche  an-other  fable  we  reade,   1865 
That  in  Morgans  fyelde  the  sowle  of  a  knyght  made  verses, 
Apearynge  unto  hym,  and  thys  one  he  rehearses : 
Destruat  hoc  regnum  Rex  regum  duplici  plaga,  — 
Whych  is  true  as  God  spake  with  the  ape  at  Praga. 
The  sowles  departed  from  thys  heavye  mortall  payne  1870 

To  the  handes  of  God,  returneth  never  agayne. 
A  marvelouse  thynge  that  ye  thus  delyght  in  lyes ! 

SED.     Thys  queane  doth  not  els  but  mocke  the  blessed 

storyes. 
That  Peter  angred  ye,  whan  he  called  ye  a  devyll  incarnate. 

K.  JOHAN.     He  is  now  full  sure,  no  more  so  uncomely  to 

prate.  .       1875 

Well,  as  for  thys  man,  because  that  he  is  a  priste 
I  gyve  hym  to  ye  ;  do  with  hym  what  ye  lyste  ! 

PAND.     In  the  Popes  behalfe  I  wyll  sumwhat  take  upon 

me : 

Here  I  delyver  hym  to  the  Churches  lyberte, 
In  spyght  of  your  hart ;  make  of  it  what  ye  lyste  !  1880 

K.  JOHAN.     I  am  pleased,  I  saye,  because  he  ys  pryste. 

PAND.     Whether  ye  be  or  no,  it  shall  not  greatly  force. 
Lete  me  see  those  cheanes  ;  go  thy  waye  and  have  remorce ! 

TREASON.     God  save  your  lordeshyppes ;  I  trust  I  shall 

amende, 
And  do  no  more  so,  or  els,  sir,  God  defende!  1885 

SED.     I  shall  make  the,  I  trowe,  to  kepe  thy  benefyce. 
By  the  Marye  messe,  the  knave  wyll  never  be  wyse! 

ENGL.     Lyke  lorde,  lyke  chaplayne  ;    neyther  barrell  bet- 
ter herynge. 

SED.     Styll    she   must    trattle ;    that   tunge   is   alwayes 

sterynge. 
A  wurde  or  two,  sir,  I  must  tell  yow  in  your  eare.  1 890 

PAND.     Of  some  advauntage  I  woulde  very  gladly  heare. 


592  JOHN    BALE. 

SED.     Releace  not  Englande  of  the  generall  interdictyon 
Tyll  the  kynge  hath  graunted  the  dowrye  and  the  pencyon 
Of  Julyane,  the  wyfe  of  Kynge  Richard  Cour  de  Lyon. 
Ye  knowe  very  well  she  beareth  the  Churche  good  mynde ;     1 895 
Tush,  we  must  have  all,  manne,  that  she  shall   leave  be- 

hynde ! 

As  the  saynge  is,  he  fyndeth  that  .surely  bynde. 
It  were  but  folye  suche  louce  endes  for  to  lose  ; 
The  lande  and  the  monye  wyll  make  well  for  our  purpose. 
Tush,  laye  yokes  upon  hym,  more  then  he  is  able  to  beare ;    1900 
Of  Holy  Churche  so  he  wyll  stande  ever  in  feare ; 
Suche  a  shrewe  as  he  it  is  good  to  kepe  undre  awe. 

ENGL.     Woo  is  that  persone  whych  is    undreneth  your 

lawe ! 

Ye  may  see,  good  people,  what  these  same  merchantes  are ; 
Their  secrete  knaveryes  their  open  factes  declare.  1905 

SED.  .  Holde  thy  peace,  callet !     God  gyve  the  sorowe 

and  care ! 

PAND.     Ere  I  releace  yow  of  the  interdyctyon  heare, 
In  the  whych  yowr  realme  contynued  hath  thys  seven  yeare, 
Ye  shall  make  Julyane,  your  syster-in-lawe,  thys  bande : 
To  gyve  her  the  thirde  part  of  Englande  and  of  Irelande.       1910 
K.  JOHAN.     All  the  worlde  knoweth,  sir,  I  owe  her  no 

suche  dewtye. 

PAND.     Ye  shall  gyve  it  to  hir;  there  is  no  remedye. 
Wyll  ye  styll  withstande  our  Holy  Fathers  precepte? 

SED.     In   peyne  of   dampnacyon,  hys   commaundement 

must  be  kepte. 
K.  JOHAN.     Oh,  ye  undo   me,    consyderynge   my  great 

paymentes !  1915 

ENGL.     Sir,  disconfort   not,  for   God  hath  sent  debate- 

mentes ; 

Yowr  mercyfull  Maker  hath  shewed  upon  ye  hys  powere, 
From  thys  heavye  yoke  delyverynge  yow  thys  howre : 
The  woman  is  dead,  —  suche  newes  are  hyther  brought. 
K.  JOHAN.     For  me  a  synnar  thys  myracle  hath  God 

wrought;  1920 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  593 

In  most  hygh  paryls  he  ever  me  preserved, 

And  in  thys  daunger  he  hath  not  from  me  swerved. 

In  genua  procvmbens  Deum  adorat,  dicens  '. 

As  David  sayth,  Lorde,  thu  dost  not  leave  thy  servaunt 
That  wyll  trust  in  the  and  in  thy  blessyd  covenaunt. 

SED.     A  vengeaunce  take  it!     By  the  messe,  it   is  un- 

happye  1925 

She  is  dead  so  sone !     Now  is  it  past  remedye. 
So  must  we  lose  all,  now  that  she  is  clerely  gone. 
If  that  praye  had  bene  ours,  oh,  it  had  bene  alone ! 
The  chaunce  beynge  suche,  by  my  trouth,  even  lete  it  go : 
No  grote  no  pater  noster,  no  penye  T\Q  placebo.  193° 

The  devyll  go  with  it,  seynge  it  wyll  be  no  better ! 

ENGL.     Their  myndes  are  all  sett  upon  the  fylthie  luker. 
PAND.     Than  here  I  releace  yow  of  yowr  interdictyons 

all, 
And  strayghtly  commaunde  yow,  upon  daungers  that  may 

fall, 

No  more  to  meddle  with  the  Churches  reformacyon,  1935 

Nor  holde  men  from  Rome  whan  they  make  appellacyon, 
By  God  and  by  all  the  contentes  of  thys  boke. 

K.  JOHAN.     Agaynst  Holy  Churche  I  wyll  nomore  speake 

nor  loke. 
SED.     Go,  open  the  churche-dores  and  let  the  belles  be 

ronge, 

And  through-out  the  realme  see  that  Te  Deum  be  songe.        1940 
Pryck   upp   your    candels    before     Saynt    Loe    and    Saynt 

Legearde ; 

Lete  Saynt  Antonyes  hogge  be  had  in  some  regarde. 
If  yowr  ale  be  sowre,  and  yowr  breade  moulde,  certayne 
Now  wyll   they  waxe    swete,  for  the  Pope  hath   blest  ye 

agayne. 
ENGL.     Than  within  a  whyle  I  trust  ye  wyll  preache  the 

gospell.  1945 

SED.     That  shall  I  tell  the,  kepe  thu  it  in  secrete  coun- 
sell: 


594  JOHN    BALE. 

It  shall  neyther  come  in  churche  nor  yet  in  chauncell. 
PAND.     Goo  your  wayes  a-pace,  and  see  my  pleasure  be 

done ! 

K.  JOHAN.     As  ye  have  commaunded,  all  shall  be  per- 
fourmed  sone. 

\_KyngeJohan  and  England  go  out.] 

PAND.     By  the  messe,  I  laugh  to  see  thys  cleane  con- 

veyaunce !  T9S° 

He  is  now  full  glad,  as  our  pype  goeth,  to  daunce ; 
By  Cockes  sowle,  he  is  now  become  a  good  parrysh  clarke. 
SED.     Ha,    ha,    wylye    whoreson,    dost   that  so   busyly 

marke  ? 

I  hope  in  a  whyle  we  wyll  make  hym  so  to  rave, 
That  he  shall  become  unto  us  a  commen  slave,  1955 

And  shall  do  nothynge  but  as  we  byd  hym  do. 
If  we  byd  hym  slea,  I  trowe  he  wyll  do  so ; 
If  we  byd  hym  burne  suche  as  beleve  in  Christe, 
He  shall  not  say  naye  to  the  byddynge  of  a  priste. 
But  yet  it  is  harde  to  trust  what  he  wyll  be,  1960 

He  is  so  crabbed;  by  the  Holy  Trinyte, 
To  save  all  thynges  up,  I  holde  best  we  make  hym  more 

sure, 

And  gyve  hym  a  sawce  that  he  no  longar  endure. 
Now  that  I  remembre,  we  shall  not  leave  hym  thus. 

PAND.     Whye,  what  shall  we  do  to  hym  els,  in  the  name 

of  Jesus?  1965 

SED.     Marry,  fatche  in  Lewes,  Kynge  Phylyppes  sonne 

of  Fraunce, 

To  falle  upon  hym  with  his  menne  and  ordynaunce, 
With  wyldefyer,  gunpouder,  and  suche  lyke  myrye  trickes, 
To  dryve  hym  to  holde  and  scarche  hym  in  the  quyckes. 
I  wyll  not  leave  hym  tyll  I  brynge  hym  to  hys  yende.  197° 

PAND.     Well,  farwele,  Sedicyon,  do  as  shall  lye  in  thy 
[mynde].1  [Exit.] 

l  A  blot  makes  the  MS.  illegible  here;  C.  suggests  intende  (=  intent); 
but  cf.  the  rhymes  in  11.  719,  879,  2238,  etc. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  595 

SED.  I  mervele  greatly  where  Dissymulacyon  is. 

DYS.     \wtthouf\     I  wyll  come  anon,  if  thu  tarry  tyll  I  pysse. 

\_Enter  Dyssymulacyoti.] 

SED.     I  beshrewe  your  hart,  where  have  ye  bene  so  longe? 

DYS.     In    the    gardene,    man,    the    herbes    and    wedes 

amonge;  1975 

And  there  have  I  gote  the  poyson  of  toade. 
I  hope  in  a  whyle  to  wurke  some  feate  abroade. 

SED.     I  was  wonte  sximtyme  of  thy  prevye  counsell  to  be ; 
Am  I  now-adayes  become  a  straunger  to  the? 

DYS.     I  wyll  tell  the  all,  undreneth  benedicite,  1980 

What  I  mynde  to  do,  in  case  thu  wylte  assoyle  me. 

SED.     Thu  shalt  be  assoyled  by  the  Most  Holy  Fathers 
auctoryte. 

DYS.     Shall  I  so  in-dede?  by  the  masse,  than  now  have 

at  the! 
Benedicite. 

SED.  In  nomine  papae,  amen  ! 

DYS.     Sir,  thys  is  my  mynde  :   I  wyll  gyve  Kynge  Johan 

thys  poyson,  1985 

So  makynge  hym  sure  that  he  shall  never  have  foyson. 
And  thys  must  thu  saye  to  colour  with  the  thynge, 
That  a  penye  lofe  he  wolde  have  brought  to  a  shyllynge. 

SED.     Naye,  that  is  suche  a  lye  as  easely  wyll  be  felte. 

DYS.     Tush,  man,  amonge  fooles  it  never  wyll  be  out- 

smelte !  1 990 

Though  it  be  a  foule l  lye,  set  upon  it  a  good  face, 
And  that  wyll  cause  men  beleve  it  in  every  place. 

SED.     I  am  sure,  than,  thu  wylt  geve  it  hym  in  a  drynke. 

DYS.     Marry,  that  I  wyll,  and  the  one  half  with   hym 

swynke, 
To  encourage  hym  to  drynke  the  botome  off.  1995 

SED.     If  thu  drynke  the  halfe,  thu  shalt  fynde  it  no  scoff; 

1  Above  foule  is  written,  in.  Bale's  hand,  great.  C.  says  "  this  is  by  no 
means  a  singular  instance  in  the  course  of  the  drama"  but  he  does  not 
point  out  the  others. 


596  JOHN    BALE. 

Of  terryble  deathe  thu  wylt  stacker  in  the  plashes. 

DYS.     Tush,  though  I  dye,  man,  there  wyll  ryse  more  of 

my  ashes. 

I  am  sure  the  monkes  wyll  praye  for  me  so  bytterlye, 
That  I  shall  not  come  in  helle  nor  in  purgatorye.  2000 

In  the  Popes  Kychyne  the  scullyons  shall  not  brawle 
Nor  fyght  for  my  grese.     If  the  priestes  woulde   for   me 

yawle, 

And  grunt  a  good  pace  placebo  with  requiem  masse, 
Without  muche  tarryaunce  I  shulde  to  paradyse  passe, 
Where  I  myght  be  sure  to  make  good  cheare  and  be  myrye,  2005 
For  I  can  not  awaye  with  that  whoreson  purgatorye. 

SED.     To  kepe  the  from  thens,  thu  shalt  have  five  monkes 

syngynge 

In  Swynsett  abbeye  so  longe  as  the  worlde  is  durynge ; 
They  wyll  daylye  praye  for  the  sowle  of  father  Symon, 
A  Cisteane  monke  whych  poysened  Kynge  John.  2010 

DYS.     Whan  the  worlde  is  done,  what  helpe  shall  I  have 

than? 

SED.     Than  shyft  for  thy-self  so  wele  as  ever  thu  can. 
DYS.     Cockes  sowle,  he  cometh  here !     Assoyle  me  that 

I  were  gone,  then. 
SED.     Ego  absolve  te  in  nomine  papae,  amen  !  2014 

[They  go  out ;  enter  Kynge  Johan  and  England. .] 

K.  JOHAN.     No  prince  in  the  worlde  in  suche  captivyte 
As  I  am  thys  howre,  and  all  for  ryghteousnesse. 

Agaynst  me  I  have  both  the  lordes  and  commynalte, 

Byshoppes  and  lawers,  whych  in  their  cruell  madnesse 
Hath  brought  in   hyther   the    Frenche  kynges   eldest 
sonne,  Lewes. 

The  chaunce  unto  me  is  not  so  dolourrouse 

But  my  lyfe  thys  daye  is  muche  more  tedyouse.  2021 

More  of  compassyon  for  shedynge  of  Christen  blood 

Than  any-thynge  els,  my  sceptre  I  gave  up  latelye 
To  the  Pope  of  Rome,  whych  hath  no  tytle  good 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  59J" 

Of  jurisdycyon,  but  of  usurpacyon  onlye  ; 

And  now  to  the,  Lorde,  I  woulde  resygne  up  gladlye 

Flectit  genua. 

Both  my  crowne  and  lyfe,  for  thyne  owne  ryght  it  is, 

If  it  would  please  the  to  take  my  sowle  to  thy  blys.  2028 

ENGL.     Sir,  discomfort  ye  not !  in  the  honour  of  Christe 

Jesu, 

God  wyll  never  fayle  yow,  intendynge  not  els  but  vertu. 
K.  JOHAN.     The  anguysh  of  sprete  so  pangeth  me  every- 
where 
That  incessantly  I  thyrst  tyll  I  be  there. 

ENGL.     Sir,  be  of  good  chere,  for  the  Pope  hath  sent  a 

legate, 

Whose  name  is  Gualo,  your  foes  to  excommunycate ; 
Not  only  Lewes,  whych  hath  wonne  Rochestre,  2O35 

Wynsore  and  London,  Readynge  and  Wynchestre, 
But  so  many  els  as  agaynst  ye  have  rebelled, 
He  hath  suspended  and  openly  accursed. 

K.  JOHAN.     They  are  all  false  knaves ;  all  men  of  them 

be-ware ; 

They  never  left  me  tyll  they  had  me  in  their  snare.  2040 

Now  have  they  Otto,  the  emproure,  so  wele  as  me, 
And  the  French  kynge,  Phylypp,  undre  their  captivyte. 
All  Christen  princes  they  wyll  have  in  their  handes ; 
The  Pope  and  his  priestes  are  poyseners  of  all  landes. 
All  Christen  people  be-ware  of  trayterouse  pristes.  2045 

For  of  truthe  they  are  the  pernicyouse  Antichristes. 

ENGL.    This  same  Gualo,  sir,  in  your  cause  doth  stoughtly 

barke. 
K.  JOHAN.     They  are  all  nought,  Englande,  so  many  as 

weare  that  marke. 

From  thys  habytacyon,  swete  Lorde,  delyver  me, 
And  preserve  thys  realme,  of  thy  benygnyte !  2050 

[Dyssymulacyon  sings  without :] 

DYS.     Wassayle,  wassayle  out  of  the  mylke  payle, 
Wassayle,  wassayle,  as  whyte  as  my  nayle, 


598  JOHN    BALE. 

• 

Wassayle,  wassayle,  in  snowe,  froste  and  hayle, 
Wassayle,  wassayle,  with  partriche  and  rayle, 
Wassayle,  wassayle,  that  muche  doth  avayle, 
Wassayle,  wassayle,  that  never  wyll  fayle !  2056 

K.  JOHAN.     Who  is  that,  Englande?1     I  praye  the  stepp 

fourth  and  see. 
ENGL.     He  doth  seem  a-farre  some  relygyous  man  to  be. 

[Enter  Dyssymvlacyon] 

DYS.     Now  Jesus  preserve  your  worthye  and   excellent 

Grace, 

For  doubtlesse  there  is  a  very  angelyck  face  !  2060 

Now  forsoth  and  God,  I  woulde  thynke  my-self  in  heaven ! 
If  I  myght  remayne  with  yow  but  yeares  alevyn, 
I  woulde  covete  here  none  other  felicyte. 

K.  JOHAN.    A  lovynge  persone  thu  mayest  seme  for  to  be. 

DYS.     I  am  as  gentle  a  worme  as  ever  ye  see.  2065 

K.  J  OHAN.     But  what  is  thy  name,  good  frynde  ?    I  praye 
the,  tell  me. 

DYS.     Simon  of  Swynsett  my  very  name  is  per-dee, 
I  am  taken  of  men  for  monastycall  Devocyon ; 
And  here  have  I  brought  yow  a  marvelouse  good  pocyon, 
For  I  harde  ye  saye  that  ye  were  very  drye.  2070 

K.  JOHAN.     In-dede,  I   wolde  gladlye  drynke.     I  praye 
the  come  nye. 

DYS.     The  dayes  of  your  lyfe  never  felt  ye  suche  a  cuppe, 
So  good  and  so  holsome,  if  ye  woulde  drynke  it  upp  ; 
It  passeth  malmesaye,  capryck,  tyre,  or  ypocras ; 
By  my  faythe,  I  thynke  a  better  drynke  never  was.  2075 

K.  JOHAN.     Begynne,  gentle  monke ;  I  pray  the,  drynke 
half  to  me. 

DYS.     If  ye  dronke  all  up,  it  were  the  better  for  ye ; 
It  woulde  slake  your  thirst  and  also  quycken  your  brayne ; 
A  better  drynke  is  not  in  Portyngale  nor  Spayne, 
Therfore  suppe  it  of,  and  make  an  ende  of  it  quycklye.  2080 

l  C.  England. 


KYNGE   JOHAN.  599 

K.  JOHAN.     Naye,  thu  shalte   drynke  half,  there  is  no 

remedye. 

DYS.     Good  lucke  to  ye,  than!  have  at  it  by-and-bye! 
[Aside]  Halfe  wyll  I  consume,  if  there  be  no  remedye. 

K.  JOHAN.     God  saynt  the,  good  monke,  with  all  my  very 

harte  ! 
DYS.     I  have  brought  ye  half ;  conveye  me  that  for  your 

parte.  2085 

\_Dyssymulacion  goes  to  another  part  of  the  stage  and  says :] 

Where  art  thu,  Sedicyon?  by  the  masse  I  dye,  I  dye ! 
Helpe  now  at  a  pynche !     Alas,  man,  cum  awaye  shortlye  ! 

SED.     Come  hyther  apace,  and  gett  thee  to  the  farmerye  ; 
I  have  provyded  for  the,  by  swete  Saynt  Powle, 
Fyve  monkes  that  shall  synge  contynually  for  thy  sowle.         2090 
That,  I  warande  the,  thu  shalt  not  come  in  helle. 

DYS.     To  sende  me  to  heaven  goo  rynge  the  holye  belle, 
And  synge  for  my  sowle  a  masse  of  Scala  Celi, 
That  I  may  clyme  up  aloft  with  Enoch  and  Heli. 
I  do  not  doubte  it  but  I  shall  be  a  saynt ;  2O95 

Provyde  a  gyldar  myne  image  for  to  paynt ; 
I  dye  for  the  Churche  with  Thomas  of  Canterberye. 
Ye  shall  fast  my  vigyll  and  upon  my  daye  be  merye ; 
No  doubt  but  I  shall  do  myracles  in  a  whyle, 
And  therfore  lete  me  be  shryned  in  the  north  yle.  2100 

SED.     To   the,  than,  wyll  offer  both  crypple,  halte  and 

blynde, 
Mad-men  and  mesels,  with  such  as  are  woo  behynde. 

Exeunt. 

K.  JOHAN.     My  bodye  me  vexeth  ;  I  doubt  much  of  a  tym- 

panye. 
ENGL.     Now,  alas,  alas !    your  Grace  is  betrayed  cow- 

ardlye ! 
K.  JOHAN.    Where  became  the  monke  that  was  here  with 

me  latelye?  2105 

ENGL.     He  is  poysened,  sir,  and  lyeth  a-dyenge,  surelye. 
K.  JOHAN.     It  can  not  be  so,  for  he  was  here  even  now. 
ENGL.     Doubtlesse,  sir,  it  is  so  true  as  I  have  tolde  yow  : 


6OO  JOHN    BALE. 

A  false  Judas  kysse  he  hath  gyven  and  is  gone. 

The  halte,  sore  and  lame  thys  pitiefull  case  wyll  mone ;  2110 

Never  prynce  was  there  that  made  to  poore  peoples  use[s] 

So  many  masendewes,  hospytals  and  spyttle-howses 

As  your  Grace  hath  done,  yet  sens  the  worlde  began. 

K.  JOHAN.     Of  priestes  and  of  monkes  I  am  counted  a 

wycked  man, 

For  that  I  never  buylte  churche  nor  monasterye,  2115 

But  my  pleasure  was  to  helpe  suche  as  were  nedye. 

ENGL.     The  more  grace  was  yours,  for  at  the  daye  of 

judgment 
Chnste   wyll   rewarde   them   whych   hath  done   hys   com- 

maundement ; 

There  is  no  promyse  for  voluntarye  wurkes, 

No  more  than  there  is  for  sacrifyce  of  the  Turkes.  2120 

K.  JOHAN.     Doubtlesse  I  do  fele  muche  grevaunce  in  my 

bodye. 
ENGL.     As  the  Lorde  wele  knoweth,  for  that  I  am  full 

sorye. 
K.  JOHAN.     There  is  no  malyce  to  the  malyce  of  the 

clergye ! 
Well,  the  Lorde  God  of  heaven  on  me  and  them  have  mer- 

cye !  2124 

For  doynge  justyce  they  have  ever  hated  me ; 

They  caused  my  lande  to  be  excommunycate, 
And  me  to  resygne  both  crowne  and  princely  dygnyte, 

From  my  obedyence  assoylynge  every  estate  ; 

And  now  last  of  all  they  have  me  intoxycate ; 
I  perceyve  ryght  wele  their  malyce  hath  none  ende. 
I  desyre  not  els  but  that  they  maye  sone  amende.  2131 

I  have  sore  hungred  and  thirsted1  ryghteousnesse 

For  the  offyce  sake  that  God  hath  me  appoynted, 

But  now  I  perceyve  that  synne  and  wyckednesse 

In  thys  wretched  worlde,  lyke  as  Christe  prophecyed, 
Have  the  overhande ;  in  me  it  is  verefyed. 

1  Qy.  insert  for. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  6OI 

Praye  for  me,  good  people,  I  besych  yow  hartely, 

That  the  Lorde  above  on  my  poore  sowle  have  mercy.  2138 

Farwell,  noble-men,  with  the  clergye  spirytuall, 

Farwell,  men-of-lawe,  with  the  whole  commynalte. 

Your  disobedyence  I  do  forgyve  yow  all, 

And  desyre  God  to  perdon  your  iniquyte. 
Farwell,  swete  Englande,  now  last  of  all  to  the  ! 

I  am  ryght  sorye  I  coulde  do  for  the  nomore. 

Farwell  ones  agayne,  yea,  farwell  for  evermore!  2145 

ENGL.     With  the  leave  of  God,  I  wyll  not  leave  ye  thus, 
But  styll  be  with  ye  tyll  he  do  take  yow  from  us, 
And  than  wyll  I  kepe  your  bodye  for  a  memoryall. 

K.  JOHAN.     Than  plye  it,  Englande,  and  provyde  for  my 

buryall ; 
A  wydowes  offyce  it  is  to  burye  the  deade.  2150 

ENGL.     Alas,  swete  maistre,  ye  waye  so  heavy  as  leade. 
Oh  horryble  case,  that  euer  so  noble  a  kynge 
Shoulde  thus  be  destroyed  and  lost  for  ryghteouse  doynge 
By  a  cruell  sort  of  disguysed  bloud-souppers, 
Unmercyfull  murtherers,  all  dronke  in  the  bloude  of  marters  ! 
Report  what  they  wyll  in  their  most  furyouse  madnesse, 
Of  thys  noble  kynge  muche  was  the  godlynesse.  2157 

Exeunt. 
[Enter  Veryte^ 

VERY.     I  assure  ye,  fryndes,  lete  men  wryte  what  they  wyll, 
Kynge  Johan  was  a  man  both  valiaunt  and  godlye. 

What  though  Polydorus  reporteth  hym  very  yll 
At  the  suggestyons  of  the  malicyouse  clergye, 
Thynke  yow  a  Romane  with  the  Romans  can  not  lye? 

Yes  ;  therfore,  Leylonde,  out  of  thy  slumbre  awake, 

And  wytnesse  a  trewthe  for  thyne  owne  contrayes  sake !         2164 

For  hys  valiauntnesse  many  excellent  writers  make, 
As  Sigebertus,  Vincentius,  and  also  Nauclerus; 

Giraldus  and  Mathu  Parys  with  hys  noble  vertues  take; 
Yea,  Paulus  Phrigio,  Johan  Major,  and  Hector  Boethius. 


6O2  JOHN    BALE. 


Nothynge  is  allowed  in  hys  lyfe  of  Polydorus, 
Whych  discommendeth  hys  ponyshmentes  for  trayterye, 
Advauncynge  very  sore  hygh  treason  in  the  clergye.  2171 

Of  hys  godlynesse  thus  muche  report  wyll  I  : 

Gracyouse  provysyon  for  sore,  sycke,  halte  and  lame 

He  made  in  hys  tyme,1  both  in  towne  and  cytie, 

Grauntynge   great  lyberties  for  mayntenaunce   of   the 

same, 
By  markettes  and  fayers  in  places  of  notable  name ; 

Great  monymentes  are  in  Yppeswych,  Donwych  and  Berye, 

Whych  noteth  hym  to  be  a  man  of  notable  mercye ;  2178 

The  cytie  of  London,  through  his  mere  graunt  and  premye, 
Was  first  privyleged  to  have  both  mayer  and  shryve, 

Where  before  hys  tyme  it  had  but  baylyves  onlye ; 

In  hys  dayes  the  Brydge  the  cytizens  ded  contryve. 
Though  he  now  be  dead,  hys  noble  actes  are  alyve. 

Hys  zele  is  declared,  as  towchynge  Christes  religyon, 

In  that  he  exyled  the  Jewes  out  of  thys  regyon.  2185 

[Enter  Nobylyte,  Clergy  and  Cyvyll  Order.] 

NOB.     Whome  speake  ye  of,  sir?     I  besyche  ye  hartelye. 

VERY.     I  talke  of  Kynge  Johan,  of  late  your  prynce  most 
worth  ye. 

NOB.     Sir,  he  was  a  man  of  a  very  wycked  sorte. 

VERY.     Ye  are  muche  to  blame  your  prynce  so  to  reporte. 
How  can  ye  presume  to  be  called  Nobilyte,  2190 

Diffamynge  a  prynce  in  your  malygnyte? 
Ecclesiastes  sayth  :  "  If  thu  with  an  hatefull  harte 
Misnamest  a  kynge,  thu  playest  suche  a  wycked  parte 
As  byrdes  of  ayer  to  God  wyll  represent, 

To  thy  great  parell  and  exceedynge  ponnyshment."  2I95 

Saynt  Hierome  sayth  also  that  he  is  of  no  renowne, 
But  a  vyle  traytour,  that  rebelleth  agaynst  the  Crowne. 

CLERGY.     He  speaketh  not  agaynst  the  crowne,  but  the 
man,  per-dee ! 

l  C.  repeats  he  made. 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  603 

VERY.     Oh,  where  is  the  sprete  whych  ought  to  reigne 

in  the? 

The  crowne  of  it-selfe  without  the  man  is  nothynge.  2200 

Learne  of  the  Scriptures  to  have  better  undrestandynge. 
The  harte  of  a  kynge  is  in  the  handes  of  the  Lorde, 
And  he  directeth  it,  wyse  Salomon  to  recorde. 
They  are  abhomynable  that  use  hym  wyckedlye. 

CLERGY.     He   was   never    good   to   us,    the   sanctifyed 

Clergye.  2205 

VERY.     Wyll  ye  know  the  cause,  before  thys  worshypfull 

cumpanye? 

Your  conversacyon  and  lyves  are  very  ungodlye. 
Kynge  Salomon  sayth  :  "  Who  hath  a  pure  mynde, 
Therin  delyghtynge,  shall  have  a  kynge  to  frynde." 
On  thys  wurde  cleros,  whych  signyfieth  a  lott,  2210 

Or  a  sortynge  out  into  a  most  godly  knott, 
Ye  do  take  your  name,  for  that  ye  are  the  Lordes 
Select,  of  hys  wurde  to  be  the  specyall  recordes. 
As  of  Saynt  Mathias  we  have  a  syngular  mencyon 
That  they  chose  hym  owt  anon  after  Christes  Ascencyon.       2215 
Thus  do  ye  recken ;  but  I  feare  ye  come  of  clems, 
A  very  noyfull  worme,  as  Aristotle  sheweth  us, 
By  whome  are  destroyed  the  honycombes  of  bees, 
For  poore  wydowes  ye  robbe,  as  ded  the  Pharysees. 

C.  ORDER.     I  promyse  yow,  it  is  uncharytably  spoken.      2220 

VERY.     Trouthe   ingendereth  hate ;    ye  shewe  therof   a 

token. 

Ye  are  suche  a  man  as  owght  every-where  to  see 
A  godly  order,  but  ye  loose  yche  commynalte. 
Plato  thowght  alwayes  that  no  hygher  love  coulde  be 
Than  a  man  to  peyne  hymself  for  hys  own  countreye.  2225 

David  for  their  sake  the  proude  Philistian  slewe, 
Aioth  mad  Eglon  hys  wyckednesse  to  rewe, 
Esdras  from  Persye  for  hys  owne  countreys  sake 
Came  to  Hierusalem  their  stronge-holdes  up  to  make ; 
But  yow,  lyke  wretches,  cast  over  both  contreye  and  kynge,  — 
All  manhode  shameth  to  see  your  unnaturall  doynge.  2231 


604  JOHN    BALE. 

Ye  wycked  rulers,  God  doth  abhorre  ye  all ! 

As  Mantuan  reporteth  in  hys  Egloges  Pastorall, 

Ye  fede  not  the  shepe,  but  ever  ye  pylle  the  flocke, 

And  clyppe  them  so  nygh  that  scarsely  ye  leve  one  locke.       2235 

Your  judgementes  are  suche  that  ye  call  to  God  in  vayne 

So  longe  as  ye  have  yowr  prynces  in  disdayne. 

Chrysostome  reporteth  that  nobilyte  of  fryndes 

Avayleth  nothynge,  except  ye  have  godly  myndes. 

What  profiteth  it  yow  to  be  called  spirytuall,  2240 

Whyls  yow  for  lucre  from  all  good  vertues  fall? 

What  prayse  is  it  to  yow  to  be  called  Cyvylyte, 

If  yow  from  obedyence  and  godly  order  flee? 

Anneus  Seneca  hath  thys  most  provable  sentence : 

"  The  gentyll  free  hart  goeth  never  from  obedyence."  2245 

C.  ORDER.     Sir,  my  bretherne  and  I  woulde  gladly  knowe 
your  name. 

VERY.     I  am  Veritas,  that  come  hyther  yow  to  blame 
For  castynge  awaye  of  [y]our  most  lawfull  kynge ; 
Both  God  and  the  worlde  detesteth  your  dampnable  doynge. 
How  have  ye  used  Kynge  Johan  here  now  of  late?  2250 

I  shame  to  rehearce  the  corruptyons  of  your  state. 
Ye  were  never  wele  tyll  ye  hym  cruelly  slayne ; 
And  now,  beynge  dead,  ye  have  hym  styll  in  disdayne. 
Ye  have  raysed  up  of  hym  most  shamelesse  lyes, 
Both  by  your  reportes  and  by  your  written  storyes.  2255 

He  that  slewe  Saul  throwgh  fearcenesse  vyolent 
Was  slayne  sone  after  at  Davids  just  commaundement, 
For-bycause  that  Saul  was  anoynted  of  the  Lorde,  — 
The  seconde  of  Kynges  of  thys  beareth  plenteouse  recorde. 
He  was  in  those  dayes  estemed  wurthie  to  dye  2260 

On  a  noynted  kynge  that  layed  handes  violentlye ; 
Ye  are  not  ashamed  to  fynde  fyve  priestes  to  synge 
For  that  same  traytour  that  slewe  your  naturall  kynge. 
A  trayterouse  knave  ye  can  set  upp  for  a  saynte, 
And  a  ryghteouse  kynge  lyke  an  odyouse  tyrant  paynte.  2265 

I  coulde  she  we  the  place  where  you  most  spyghtfullye 
Put  out  your  torches  upon  hys  physnomye  ; 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  605 

In  your  glasse  wyndowes  ye  whyppe  your  naturall  kynges. 

As  I  sayde  afore,  I  abhorre  to  shewe  your  doynges. 

The  Turkes,  I  dare  say,  are  a  thowsande  tymes  better  than 

yow.  2270 

NOB.     For  Gods  love,  no  more!     Alas,  ye  have  sayde 

ynough ! 
CLERGY.     All  the  worlde  doth  knowe  that  we  have  done 

sore  amys. 
C.  ORDER.     Forgyve  it  us,  so  that  we  never  heare  more 

of  thys. 

VERY.     But  are  ye  sorye  for  thys  ungodly  wurke? 
NOB.     I  praye  to  God  else  I  be  dampned  lyke  a  Turke.      2275 
VERY.     And  make  true  promyse  ye  wyll  never  more  do  so? 
CLERGY.     Sir,  never  more  shall  I  from  true  obedyence 

goo. 
VERY.     What  say  you,  brother?     I  must  have  also  your 

sentence. 

C.  ORDER.     I  wyll  ever  gyve  to  my  prynce  due  reverence. 
VERY.     Well  than,  I  doubt  not  but  the  Lorde  wyll  con- 

descende  2280 

To  ,forgyve  yow  all,  so  that  ye  mynde  to  amende. 
Adewe  to  ye  all,  for  now  I  must  be  gone. 

[Enter  Imperyall  Majesty e.~\ 

IMP.  MAJ.     Abyde,  Veryte,  ye  shall  not  depart  so  sone ! 
Have  ye  done  all  thynges  as  we  commanded  yow? 

VERY.     Yea,  most  gracyouse  prynce,   I   concluded   the 

whole  even  now.  2285 

IMP.  MAJ.     And  how  do  they  lyke  the  customs  they  have 

used 

With  our  predecessours,  whome  they  have  so  abused, 
Specyally  Kynge  Johan?  thynke  they  they  have  done  well? 
VERY.     They  repent  that  ever  they  folowed  sedicyouse 

counsell, 

And  have  made  promes  they  wyll  amende  all  faultes.  2290 

IMP.  MAJ.     And  forsake  the  Pope  with   all   hys  crueil 
assaultes? 


606  JOHN    BALE. 

VERY.     Whie  do  ye  not  bowe  to  Imperyall  Majeste? 
Knele  and  axe  pardon  for  yowr  great  enormyte ! 

NOB.     Most  godly  governour,  we    axe   your  gracyouse 

pardon, 

Promysynge  nevermore  to  maynteyne  false  Sedicyon.  2295 

CLERGY.     Neyther    Pryvate    Welthe,    nor  yet    Usurped 

Poure 

Shall  cause  me  disobeye  my  prynce  from  thys  same  houre ; 
False  Dissymulacyon  shall  never  me  begyle ; 
Where  I  shall  mete  hym,  I  wyll  ever  hym  revyle. 

IMP.  MAJ.     I  perceyve,  Veryte,  ye  have  done  wele  your 

part,  2300 

Refowrmynge  these  men ;  gramercyes  with  all  my  hart ! 
I  praye  yow  take  paynes  to  call  our  Commynalte 
To  true  obedyence,  as  ye  are  Gods  Veryte. 

VERY.     I  wyll  do  it,  sir ;  yet  shall  I  have  muche  a-doo 
With  your  popish  prelates ;  they  wyll  hunte  me  to  and  fro.     2305 
IMP.  MAJ.     So  longe  as   I   lyve,  they  shall  do  yow  no 

wronge. 
VERY.     Than  wyll  I  go  preache  Gods  wurde-your  com- 

mens  amonge. 

But  first  I  desyre  yow  their  stubberne  factes  to  remytt. 
IMP.  MAJ.     I  forgyve  yow  all,  and  perdon  your  frowarde 

wytt. 
OMNES   UNA.     The  heavenly    Governour   rewarde   your 

goodnesse  for  it!  2310 

VERY.     For  Gods  sake  obeye,  lyke  as  doth  yow  befall, 
For  in  hys  owne  realme  a  kynge  is  judge  over  all 
By  Gods  appoyntment,  and  none  maye  hym  judge  agayne 
But  the  Lorde  hymself ;  in  thys  the  Scripture  is  playne. 
He  that  condempneth  a  kynge,  condempneth  God,  without 

dought;  2315 

He  that  harmeth  a  kynge,  to  harme  God  goeth  abought ; 
He  that  a  prynce  resisteth,  doth  dampne  Cods  ordynaunce, 
And  resisteth  God  in  withdrawynge  hys  affyaunct 
All  subjectes  offendynge  are  undre  the  kynges  judgement, 
A  kynge  is  reserved  to  the  Lorde  Omnypotent  2326 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  607 

He  is  a  mynyster  immedyate  undre  God, 
Of  hys  ryghteousnesse  to  execute  the  rod. 
I  charge  yow,  therfore,  as  God  hath  charge  *  me, 
To  gyve  to  your  kynge  hys  due  supremyte, 

And  exyle  the  Pope  thys  realme  for-evermore.  2325 

OMNES  UNA.     We  shall  gladly  doo  accordynge  to  your 

loore. 
VERY.     Your  Grace  is  content  I  shewe  your  people  the 

same  ? 
IMP.  MAJ.     Yea,  gentle  Veryte,  shewe  them  their  dewtye, 

in  Gods  name. 

To  confyrme  the  tale  that  Veryte  had  now 
The  seconde  of  Kynges  is  evydent  to  yow :  2330 

The  younge  man  that  brought  the  crowne  and  bracelett 
Of  Saul  to  David,  saynge  that  he  had  hym  slayne, 

David  commaunded,  as  though  he  had  done  the  forfett, 

Strayght-waye  to  be  slayne  ;    Gods  sprete   ded   hym 

constrayne 
To  shewe  what  it  is  a  kynges  bloude  to  distayne. 

So  ded  he  those  two  that  in  the  fyelde  hym  mett, 

And  unto  hym  brought  the  heade  of  Isboset.  2337 

Consydre  that  Christe  was  undre  the  obedyence 
Of  worldly  prynces  so  longe  as  he  was  here, 

And  alwayes  used  them  with  a  lowly  reverence, 

Payinge  them  tribute,  all  his  true  servauntes  to  stere 
To  obeye  them,  love  them,  and  have  them  in  reverent 
feare. 

Dampnacyon  it  is  to  hym  that  an  ordre  breake 

Appoynted  of  God,  lyke  as  the  Apostle  speake.  2344 

No  man  is  exempt  from  thys,  Gods  ordynaunce, 

Bishopp,  monke,  chanon,  priest,  cardynall  nor  pope  ; 

All  they  by  Gods  lawe  to  kynges  owe  their  allegeaunce. 

Thys  wyll  be  wele  knowne  in  thys  same  realme,  I  hope. 
Of  Verytees  wurdes  the  syncere  meanynge  I  grope : 

l  Perhaps  charged,  but  see  Notes. 


608  JOHN    BALE. 

He  sayth  that  a  kynge  is  of  God  immedyatlye ; 

Than  shall  never  pope  rule  more  in  thys  monarchic.  2351 

CLERGY.     If   it   be   your   pleasure  we  wyll   exyle  hym 

cleane, 

That  he  in  thys  realme  shall  nevermore  be  seane, 
And  your  Grace  shall  be  the  supreme  head  of  the  Churche ; 
To  brynge  thys  to  passe,  ye  shall  see  how  we  wyll  wurche.     2355 

IMP.  MAJ.     Here  is  a  nyce  tale!     He  sayth,  if  it  be  my 

pleasure, 

He  wyll  do  thys  acte  to  the  Popes  most  hygh  displeasure ; 
As  who  sayth,  I  woulde  for  pleasure  of  my  persone, 
And  not  for  Gods  truthe,  have  suche  an  enterpryse  done. 
Full  wysely  convayed !    the  crowe  wyll  not  chaunge   her 

hewe.  2360 

It  is  marvele  to  me  and  ever  ye  be  trewe. 
I  wyll  the  auctoryte  of  Gods  holy  wurde  to  do  it, 
And  it  not  to  aryse  of  your  vayne,  slypper  wytt. 
That  Scripture  doth  not,  is  but  a  lyght  fantasye. 

CLERGY.     Both    Daniel    and    Paule    calleth    hym    Gods 

adversarye,  2365 

And  th  erf  ore  ye  ought  as  a  devyll  hym  to  expell. 

IMP.  MAJ.     Knewe  ye  thys  afore,  and  woulde  it   never 

tell? 

Ye  shoulde  repent  it,  had  we  not  now  forgyven  ye ! 
Nobylyte,  what  say  yow?     Wyll  ye  to  thys  agree? 

NOB.     I  can  no  lesse,  sir,  for  he  is  wurse  than  the  Turke,  2370 
Whych  none  other  wayes  but  by  tyrannye  doth  wurke. 
Thys  bloudy  bocher  with  hys  pernycyouse  bayte 
Oppresse  Christen  princes  by  frawde,  crafte  and  dissayte, 
Tyll  he  compell  them  to  kysse  hys  pestylent  fete, 
Lyke  a  levyathan  syttynge  in  Moyses  sete.  2375 

I  thynke  we  can  do  unto  God  no  sacrifyce 
That  is  more  accept,  nor  more  agreynge  to  justyce, 
Than  to  slea  that  beaste  and  slauterman  of  the  devyll, 
That  Babylon  boore,  whych  hath  done  so  muche  evyll. 

IMP.  MAJ.     It  is  a  clere  sygne  of  a  true  Nobilyte,  2380 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  609 

To  the  wurde  of  God  whan  your  conscyence  doth  agree; 

For,  as  Christe  ded  saye  to  Peter,  Caro  et  sanguis 

Non  revelavit  tibi,  sed  Pater  meus  celestis  : 

Ye  have  not  thys  gyfte  of  carnall  generacion, 

Nor  of  noble  bloude,  but  by  Gods  owne  demonstracyon.         2385 

Of  yow,  Cyvyle  Order,  one  sentence  woulde  I  heare. 

C.  ORDER.     I  rewe  it  that  ever   any  harte  I  ded  hym 

beare. 

I  thynke  he  hath  spronge  out  of  the  bottomlesse  pytt, 
And  in  mennys  conscyence  in  the  stede  of  God  doth  sytt, 
Blowynge  fourth  a  swarme  of  grassopers  and  flyes,  2390 

Monkes,  fryers  and  priestes,  that  all  truthe  putrifyes. 
Of  the  Christen  faythe  playe  now  the  true  defendar, 
Exyle  thys  monster  and  ravenous  devourar, 
With  hys  venym  wormes,  hys  adders,  whelpes  and  snakes, 
Hys  cuculled  vermyne,  that  unto  all  myschiefe  wakes  !  2395 

IMP.  MAJ.     Than,  in  thys  purpose   ye  are  all   of   one 

mynde? 
CLERGY.     We  detest  the  Pope,  and  abhorre  hym  to  the 

fynde. 
IMP.  MAJ.     And  ye  are   wele   content  to  disobeye   hys 

pryde? 
NOB.     Yea,  and  his   lowsye  lawes  and   decrees  to   sett 

asyde. 
IMP.  MAJ.     Than  must  ye  be  sworne  to  take  me  for  your 

heade.  2400 

C.  ORDER.     We  wyll  obeye  yow  as  our  governour  in  Gods 

steade. 
IMP.  MAJ.     Now  that  ye  are  sworne  unto  me  your  pryn- 

cypall, 

I  charge  ye  to  regarde  the  wurde  of  God  over  all, 
And  in  that  alone  to  rule,  to  speake  and  to  judge, 
As  ye  wyll  have  me  your  socour  and  refuge.  2405 

.  CLERGY.     If  ye  wyll  make  sure,  ye  must  exyle  Sedicyon, 
False  Dyssymulacyon,  with  all  vayne  supers tycyon, 
And  put  Private  Welthe  out  of  the  monasteryes  ; 
Than  Usurped  Power  maye  goo  a-birdynge  for  flyes. 


6lO  JOHN    BALE. 

IMP.  MAJ.     Take  yow  it  in  hande,  and  do  your  true  dily- 

gence,  2410 

Iche  man  for  hys  part ;  ye  shall  wante  no  assystence. 

CLERGY.     I  promyse  yow  here  to  exyle  Usurped  Powre, 
And  yowr  supremyte  to  defende  yche  daye  and  howre. 

NOB.      I  promyse  also  out  of  the  monasteryes 
To  put  Private  Welthe,  and  detect  hys  mysteryes.  2415 

C.  ORDER.     False  Dissymulacyon  I    wyll  hange   up  in 

Smythfylde, 
With  suche  supersticion  as  your  people  hath  begylde. 

IMP.  MAJ.     Than  I  trust  we  are  at  a  very  good  conclu- 

syon, 

Vertu  to  have  place,  and  vyce  to  have  confusyon. 
Take  Veryte  with  ye  for  every  acte  ye  doo,  2420 

So  shall  ye  be  sure  not  out  of  the  waye  to  goo. 

Sedicyon  intrat. 

SED.    \sings\    Pepe !  I  see  ye  !  I  am  glad  I  have  spyed  ye  ! l 

NOB.     There  is  Sedicyon ;  stand  yow  asyde  a-whyle, 
Ye  shall  see  how  we  shall  catche  hym  by  a  wyle. 

SED.     No  noyse  amonge  ye?     Where  is  the  mery  chere     2425 
That  was  wont  to  be,  with  quaffynge  of  double  bere? 
The  worlde  is  not  yet  as  some  men  woulde  it  have. 
I  have  bene  abrbade,  and  I  thynke  I  haveplayde  the  knave. 

C.  ORDER.     Thu  canst  do  none  other,  except  thu  change 
thy  wunte. 

SED.     What   myschiefe    ayle   ye   that   ye  are  to  me  so 

blunte?  2430 

I  have  sene  the  daye  ye  have  favoured  me,  Perfectyon. 

CLERGY.     Thy-selfe  is  not  he,  thu  art  of  an  other  com-  ' 

plectyon. 

Sir,  thys  is  the  thiefe  that  first  subdued  Kynge  John, 
Vexynge  other  prynces  that  sens  have  ruled  thys  regyon, 
And  now  he  doth  prate  he  hath  played  the  knave,  2435 

That  the  worlde  is  not  yet  as  some  men  woulde  it  have. 
It  woulde  be  knowne,  sir,  what  he  hath  done  of  late. 

1  The  music  is  printed  in  C. 


KYNGE   JOHAN.  6 1 1 

IMP.  MAJ.     What  is  thy  name,  frynde?    To  us  here  inty- 

mate. 
SED.     A  sayntwary  !  a  sayntwary !  for  Gods  dere  passion, 

a  sayntwarye! 

Is  there  none  wyll  holde  me,  and  I  have  made  so  manye?       2440 
IMP.  MAJ.     Tell  me  what  thy  name  is.     Thu  playest  the 

knave,  I  trowe. 
SED.     I  am  wyndelesse,  good  man,  I  have  muche  peyne 

to  blowe. 
IMP.  MAJ.     I  saye,  tell  thy  name,  or  the  racke  shall  the 

constrayne. 

SED.     Holy  Perfectyon  my  godmother  called  me  playne. 
NOB.     It  is  Sedicyon,  God  gyve  hym  a  very  myschiefe!     2445 
C.  ORDER.     Under  heaven  is  not  a  more  detestable  thiefe. 
SED.     By  the  messe,  ye  lye!     I  see  wele  ye  do  not  knowe 

me. 
IMP.  MAJ.     Ah,  brother,  art  thu  cum?     I  am  ryght  glad 

we  have  the. 

SED.     By  bodye,  bloude,  bones,  and  sowle,  I  am  not  he  ! 
CLERGY.      If   swearynge  myghte    helpe,    he    woulde    do 

we[le]  1  ynough.  2450 

IMP.  MAJ.     He  scape  not  our  handes  so  lyghtly,  I  war- 

ande  yow. 
CLERGY.     Thys  is  that  thiefe,  sir,  that  all  Christendome 

hath  troubled, 

And  the  Pope  of  Rome  agaynst  all  kynges  maynteyned. 
NOB.     Now  that  ye  have  hym,  no  more  but  hange  hym 

uppe! 
•    C.  ORDER.     If  ye  so  be  content,  it  shall  be  done  ere  I 

suppe.  2455 

IMP.  MAJ.     Loo.!   the   Clergye  accuseth   the,    Nobylyte 

condempneth  the, 

And  the  Lawe  wyll  hange  the.     What  sayst  now  to  me? 
SED.     I  woulde  I  were  now  at  Rome  at  the  sygne  of  the 

Cuppe, 
For  heavynesse  is  drye.     Alas,  must  I  nedes  clymbe  uppe? 

1  Corr.  by  C, 


6l2  JOHN    BALE. 

Perdon  my  lyfe,  and  I  shall  tell  ye  all,  2460 

Both  that  is  past  and  that  wyll  herafter  fall. 

IMP.  MAJ.     Aryse ;    I    perdon  the,  so  that  thu  tell  the 

trewthe. 

SED.     I  wyll  tell  to  yow  suche  treason  as  ensewthe. 
Yet  a  ghostly  father  ought  not  to  bevvraye  confessyon. 
IMP.   MAJ.      No    confessyon   is   but   ought   to   discover 

treason.  2465 

SED.     I  thynk?  it  maye  kepe  all  thynge  save  heresye. 
IMP.  MAJ.     It  maye  holde  no  treason,  I  tell  the  verelye, 
And  therfore  tell  the  whole  matter  by-and-bye. 
Thu  saydest  now  of  late  that  thu  haddest  played  the  knave, 
And  that  the  worlde  was  not  as  some  men  woulde  it  have.      2470 
SED.     I  coulde  playe  Pasquyll,  but  I  feare  to  have  re- 
buke. 
IMP.  MAJ.      For  utterynge  the  truthe  feare  neyther  bysh- 

opp  nor  duke. 
SED.     Ye  gave  injunctyons  that  Gods  wurde  myghte  be 

taught ; 

But  who  observe  them?     Full  manye  a  tyme  have  I  laught 
To  see  the  conveyaunce  that  prelates  and  priestes  can  fynde.  2475 
IMP.  MAJ.     And   whie  do   they  beare    Gods  wurde   no 

better  mynde? 
SED.     For,  if  that  were  knowne,  than  woulde  the  people 

regarde 
No  heade  but  their  prynce ;  with  the  Churche  than  were  it 

harde ; 

Than  shoulde  I  lacke  helpe  to  maynteyne  their  estate, 
As  I  attempted  in  the  Northe  but  now  of  late,  2480 

And  sens  that  same  tyme  in  other  places  besyde, 
Tyll  my  setters-on  were  of  their  purpose  wyde. 
A  vengeaunce  take  it,  it  was  never  well  with  me 
Sens  the  cummynge  hyther  of  that  same  Veryte ! 
Yet  do  the  byshoppes  for  my  sake  vexe  hym  amonge.  2485 

IMP.  MAJ.     Do  they  so  in-dede?  well,  they  shall  not  do 

so  longe. 
SED.     In  your  parlement  commaunde  yow  what  ye  wyll, 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  613 

The  Popes  ceremonyes  shall  drowne  the  gospell  styll. 

Some  of  the  byshoppes  at  your  injunctyons  slepe, 

Some  laugh  and  go  bye,  and  some  can  playe  boo-pepe.  2490 

Some  of  them  do  nought  but  searche  for  heretykes, 

Whyls  their  priestes  abroade  do  playe  the  scysmatykes. 

Tell  me,  in  London  how  manye  their  othes  discharge 

Of  the  curates  there ;  yet  is  it  muche  wurse  at  large. 

If  your  true  subjectes  impugne  their  trecheryes,  2495 

They  can  fatche  them  in,  man,  for  Sacramentaryes, 

Or  Anabaptystes ;  thus  fynde  they  subtyle  shyfte 

To  proppe  up  their  kyngedome,  suche  is  their  wyly  dryfte. 

Get  they  false  wytnesses,  they  force  not  of  whens  they  be, 

Be  they  of  Newgate,  or  be  they  of  the  Marshallsee.  2500 

Paraventure  a  thousande  are  in  one  byshoppes  boke, 

And  agaynst  a  daye  are  readye  to  the  hooke. 

IMP.  MAJ.     Are  those  matters  true  that  thu  hast  spoken 

here? 
SED.     What  can  in  the  worlde  more  evydent  wytnesse 

bere? 

First  of  all  consydre  the  prelates  do  not  preache,  25°5 

But  persecute  those  that  the  holy  Scriptures  teache ; 
And  marke  me  thys  wele,  they  never  ponnysh  for  popery, 
But  the  gospell-readers  they  handle  very  coursely ; 
For  on  them  they  laye  by  hondred  poundes  of  yron, 
And  wyll  suffer  none  with  them  ones  for  to  common.  2510 

Sytt    they    never    so    longe,    nothynge    by    them    cometh 

fourth  e 

To  the  truthes  furtherance  that  any-thynge  ys  wourthe. 
In  some  byshoppes  howse  ye  shall  not1  fynde  a  Testament, 
But  yche  man  readye  to  devoure  the  innocent. 
We  lyngar  a  tyme  and  loke  but  for  a  daye  2515 

To  sett  upp  the  Pope,  if  the  gospell  woulde  decaye. 

CLERGY*     Of  that  he  hath  tolde    hys-selfe  is   the   very 

grounde. 
IMP.  MAJ.     Art    thu    of   counsell   in   this  that  thu  hast 

spoken? 

1  MS.  repeats  shall  not. 


614  JOHN    BALE. 

SED.     Yea,  and  in  more  than  that,  if  all  secretes  myght 

be  broken ; 

For  the  Pope  I  make  so  muche  as  ever  I  maye  do.  2520 

IMP.  MAJ.     I  praye  the  hartely,  tell  me  why  thu  doest  so. 
SED.     For  I  perceyve  wele  the  Pope  is  a  jolye  fellawe, 
A  trymme  fellawe,  a  ryche  fellawe,  yea,  and  myry  fellawe. 
IMP.  MAJ.     A  jolye  fellawe  how  dost  thu  prove  the  Pope? 
SED.     For  he  hath  crosse  keyes,  with  a  tryple  crowne  and 

a  cope,  2525 

Trymme  as  a  trencher,  havynge  his  shoes  of  golde, 
Ryche  in  hys  ryalte  and  angelyck  to  beholde. 

IMP.  MAJ.     How   dost  thu  prove  hym  to  be  a  fellawe 

myrye  ? 

SED.     He  hath  pipys  and  belles,  with  kyrye,  ky rye,  kyrye. 
Of  hym  ye  maye  bye  both  salt,  creame,  oyle  and  waxe,  2530 

And  after  hygh  masse  ye  may  learne  to  beare  the  paxe. 
IMP.  MAJ.     Yea?  and  nothynge  heare  of  the  pystle  and 

the  gospell? 
SED.     No,    sir,    by  the   masse,  he   wyll  gyve  no  suche 

counsell. 
IMP.    MAJ.     Whan    thu   art   abroade,   where    doest   thy 

lodgynge   take? 

SED.     Amonge  suche  people  as  God  ded  never  make:         2535 
Not  only  cuckoldes,  but  suche  as  folow  the  Popes  lawes 
In  disgysed  coates,  with  balde  crownes  lyke  jacke-dawes. 
IMP.  MAJ.    Than  every-where  thu  art  the  Popes  altogyther. 
SED.     Ye  had  proved  it  ere  thys,  if  I  had  not  chaunced 

hyther. 

I  sought  to  have  served  yow  lyke  as  I  ded  Kynge  John,          2540 
But  that  Veryte  stopte  me,  the  devyll  hym  poyson ! 

NOB.     He  is  wurthie  to  dye  and  there  were  men  nomore ! 
C.  ORDER.     Hange  up  the  vyle  knave,  and  kepe  hym  no 

longar  in  store ! 
IMP.   MAJ.     Drawe  hym  to  Tyburne  ;  lete  hym  be  hanged 

and  quartered. 
SED.     Wliye,  of  late  dayes  ye  sayde  I  shoulde  not  be  so 

martyred.  2545 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  615 

Where  is  the  pardon  that  ye  ded  promyse  me? 

IMP.   MAJ.     For  doynge  more  harme  thu  shalt  sone  par- 
doned be. 
Have  hym  fourth,  Cyvyle  Ordre,  and  hang  hym  tyll  he  be 

dead, 
And  on  London  Brydge  loke  ye  bestowe  hys  head. 

C.  ORDER.     I    shall   see   it   done   and   returne   to   yow 

agayne.  255° 

SED.     I  beshrewe  your  hart  for  takynge  so  muche  payne  ! 
Some  man  tell  the  Pope,  I  besyche  ye  with  all  my  harte, 
How  I  am  ordered  for  takynge  the  Churches  parte, 
That  I  maye  be  put  in  the  holye  letanye 

With  Thomas  Beckett,  for  I  thynke  I  am  as  wurthye.  2555 

Praye  to  me  with  candels,  for  I  am  a  saynt  alreadye. 
O  blessed  Saynt  Partryck,  I  see  the,  I,  verylye!  [Exeunt.} 

IMP.  MAJ.     I  see  by  thys  wretche  there  hath  bene  muche 

faulte  in  ye ; 
Shewe  your-'selves  herafter  more  sober  and  wyse  to  be.  2559 

Kynge  Johan  ye  subdued,  for  that  he  ponnyshed  treason, 
Rape,  theft  and  murther  in  the  holye  spirytualte ; 

But  Thomas  Beckett  ye  exalted  without  reason, 

Because  that  he  dyed  for  the  Churches  wanton  lyberte, 
That  the  priestes  myght  do  all  kyndes  of  inyquyte, 

And  be  unponnyshed.     Marke  now  the  judgement 

Of  your  ydle  braynes,  and,  for  Gods  love,  repent!  2566 

NOB.     As  God  shall  judge  me,  I  repent  me  of  my  rude- 

nesse. 
CLERGY.     I  am  ashamed  of  my  most  vayne  folyshenesse.  2568 

NOB.     I  consydre  now  that  God  hath  for  sedicyon 

Sent  ponnyshmentes  great :  examples  we  have  in  Brute, 

In  Catilyne,  in  Cassius  and  fayer  Absolon, 

Whome  of  their  purpose  God  alwayes  destytute, 
And  terryble  plages  on  them  ded  execute 

For  their  rebellyon.     And  therfore  I  wyll  be  ware, 

Least  his  great  ve.ngeaunce  trappe  me  in  suche  lyke  snare.      2575 


6l6  JOHN    BALE. 

CLERGY.     I  pondre  also  that  sens  the  tyme  of  Adam 
The  Lorde  evermore  the  governours  preserved : 

Examples  we  fynde  in  Noe  and  in  Abraham, 

In  Moyses  and  David,  from  whome  God  never  swerved. 
I  wyll  therfor  obeye  least  he  be  with  me  displeased. 

Homerus  doth  saye  that  God  putteth  fourth  hys  shyelde 

The  prynce  to  defende  whan  he  is  in  the  fyelde.  2582 

C.  ORDER.     Thys  also  I   marke :    whan  the   priestcs   had 

governaunce 

Over  the  Hebrues,  the  sectes  ded  first  aryse 
As   Pharisees,   Sadducees,  and   Esse[n]es,  whych  wrought 

muche  grevaunce 

Amonge  the  people  by  their  most  devylysh  practyse, 
Tyll  destructyons  the  prynces  ded  devyse, 
To  the  quyetnesse  of  their  faythfull  commens  all, 
As  your  Grace  hath  done  with  the  sectes  papistycall.  2589 

IMP.   MAJ.      That  poynt  hath  in  tyme  fallen  in  your  mem- 
oryes. 

The  Anabaptystes,  a  secte  newe  rysen  of  late, 
The  Scriptures  poyseneth  with  their  subtle  allegoryes, 

The  heades  to  subdue  after  a  sedicyouse  rate. 

The  cytie  of  Mynster  was  lost  through  their  debate.' 
They  have  here  begunne  their  pestilent  sedes  to  sowe, 
But  we  trust  in  God,  to  increace  they  shall  not  growe.  2S9^ 

CLERGY.     God  forbyd  they  shoulde,  for  they  myght  do 
muche  harme ! 

C.  ORDER.     We  shall  cut  them  short  if  they  do  hyther 
swarme. 

IMP.  MAJ.    The  adminystracyon  of  a  princes  governaunce 
Is  the  gifte  of  God  and  hys  hygh  ordynaunce,  2600 

Whome  with  all  your  power  yow  thre  ought  to  support 
In  the  lawes  of  God  to  all  hys  peoples  confort : 
First  yow,  the  Clergye,  in  preachynge  of  Gods  worde, 
Than  yow,  Nobilyte,  defendynge  with  the  sworde, 
Yow,  Cyvyle  Order,  in  executynge  justyce.  2605 


KYNGE    JOHAN.  6l? 

Thus,  I  trust,  we  shall  seclude  all  maner  of  vyce, 

And,  after  we  have  establyshed  our  kyngedome 

In  peace  of  the  Lorde  and  in  hys  godly  fredome, 

We  wyll  confirme  it  with  wholesom  lawes  and  decrees, 

To  the  full  suppressynge  of  Antichristes  vanytees.  2610 

Hie  omnes  rex  osculatur. 

Farwele  to  ye  all :  first  to  yow,  Nobilyte 
Than  to  yow,  Clergye,  than  to  yow,  Cyvylyte ; 
And  above  all  thynges  remembre  our  injunctyon! 

OMNES  UNA.     By  the  helpe  of  God  yche  one  shall  do  hys 

f  Unctyon .  {Exit  Imperyall  Majestye.  ]  2614 

NOB.     By  thys  example  ye  may  see  with  your  eyes 

How  Antichristes  whelpes  have  noble  princes  used. 

Agayne  ye  may  see  how  they  with  prodigyouse  lyes 

And  craftes  uncomely  their  myschiefes  have  excused ; 
Both  nature,  manhode  and  grace  they  have  abused, 

Defylynge  the  lawe  and  blyndynge  Nobilyte,  — 

No  Christen  regyon  from  their  abusyons  free.  2621 

CLERGY.     Marke  wele  the  dampnable  bestowynge  of  their 

masses, 

With  their  foundacyons  for  poysenynge  of  their  kynge. 
Their  confessyon-driftes  all  other  traytery  passes. 

A  saynt  the[y] l  can  make  of  the   inoste   knave  thys 

daye  .lyvynge, 

Helpynge  their  market ;  and,  to  promote  the  thynge, 
He  shall  do  myracles.     But  he  that  blemysh  their  glorye 
Shall  be  sent  to  helle  without  anye  remedye.  2628 

C.  ORDER.     Here  was  to  be  seane  what  ryseth  of  Sedicyon, 
And  howe  he  doth  take  hys  mayntenaunce  and  grounde 

Of  ydle  persones,  brought  upp  in  supersticyon, 

Whose  daylye  practyse  is  alwayes  to  confounde 

Such  as  myndeth  vertu  and  to  them  wyll  not  be  bounde. 

Expedyent  it  is  to  knowe  their  pestylent  wayes, 

Consyderynge  they  were  so  busye  now  of  late  dayes.  2635 

1  Corr.  by  C. 


6l8  JOHN    BALE. 

NOB.     Englande   hath  a  quene,  —  thankes  to  the    Lorde 

above ! — 

Whych  maye  be  a  lyghte  to  other  princes  all 
For  the  godly  wayes  whome  she  doth  dayly  move 

To  her  liege  people,  through  Gods  wurde  specyall. 

She  is  that  Angell,  as  Saynt  Johan  doth  hym  call, 

That  with  the  Lordes  scale  doth  marke  out  his  true  ser- 

vauntes, 
Pryntynge  in  their  hartes  his  holy  wourdes  and  covenauntes.  2642 

CLERGY.     In  Danyels  sprete  she  hath  subdued  the  Papistes, 
With  all  the  ofsprynge  of  Antichristes  generacyon ; 

And  now  of  late  dayes  the  sect  of  Anabaptistes 

She  seketh  to  suppresse  for  their  pestiferouse  facyon. 
She  vanquysheth  also  the  great  abhomynacyon 

Of  supersticyons,  witchecraftes  and  hydolatrye, 

Restorynge  Gods  honoure  to  hys  first  force  and  bewtye.         2649 

C.  ORDER.     Praye  unto  the  Lorde  that  hir  Grace  may  con- 

tynewe 
The  dayes  of  Nestor  to  our  sowles  consolacyon ; 

And  that  hir  ofsprynge  may  lyve  also  to  subdewe 

The  great  Antichriste,  with  hys  whole  generacyon, 
In  Helias  sprete  to  the  confort  of  thys  nacyon ; 

Also  to  preserve  hir  most  honourable  Counsell, 

To  the  prayse  of  God  and  glorye  of  the  gospell  ! 1  2656 

1  After  this  line,  MS.  has  Pretium  xxs,  not  in  Bale's  hand,  but  con- 
temporary. 

Thus  endeth  the  ij  playes 
of  Kynge  Johan. 

END   OF  VOL.  I. 


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